Home composting

Over half of the waste in most household bins can be composted instead of being sent to landfill.

Many items can be composted such as:

• fruit and vegetable peelings
• tea bags
• egg shells
• paper and cardboard
• green garden waste. 

Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It is easy to make and use. It is good for your garden and the environment too. It is one of the most environmentally friendly ways of recycling, and it even saves money on fertiliser.
 

Starting home composting

There are different options if you want to start home composting, you can:

• buy a compost bin. Try getcomposting.com for available offers on compost bins
• buy a relatively inexpensive compost bin from a garden centre or large supermarket
• create a compost heap in a corner of your garden
• build your own compost bin out of old pallets or pieces of wood.

Your bin should ideally be positioned on an area of bare ground which allows composting creatures to enter the heap and any liquid to drain away into the surrounding soil.

Add to your bin regularly, making sure you get a good mix of materials.

Provided that you get a roughly even blend of greens and browns that are mixed well before they go into your bin, there is no need to turn your compost.

• greens - moist and sappy - like grass cuttings and vegetable peelings, which provide moisture
• browns - woody dry materials - like hedge trimmings, paper and card which provide air pockets.

Home compost bin scheme

Why not take advantage of the home compost bin scheme available across Lancashire? Bins are delivered straight to your door with full instructions on how to get started.

View advice on how to buy a compost bin on the getcomposting.com website.

View more help and advice on home composting on the recycle now website.