How to start composting at home

Composting is a great waste reduction plan for any household.

Not only does composting benefit the environment but it’s also an efficient way of reducing the amount of household waste that needs to be collected.

This is according to Charlotte Amery from GreenHome, who says there are so many benefits to composting.

Charlotte shares some composting tips for beginners…

Why should I compost?

There are a number of benefits that come with composting. Charlotte says you’ll be amazed at how much waste you can reduce by composting.

Composting also eliminates the smell of rubbish that would otherwise be lingering in your bin.

Homeowners who compost can also enjoy the benefit of improved soil quality in their gardens. This is because the compost adds nutrients to the dirt, resulting in richer garden soil. Not only does this help plants grow better but it also increases the soil’s ability to retain water.

Composting is good for the environment too. Charlotte says when compostable waste gets sent to the landfill, it rots, letting off harmful methane gasses. In a compost heap, however, the waste is broken down by microorganisms and no harmful gasses are released.

What should I do?

If you’d like to start a compost heap, Charlotte says choose a sunny corner in your garden on some level, open ground. This enables good drainage and allows the organisms from the soil to help the composting process.

She says the size of your heap will depend on the size of your household and garden.

Any raw kitchen waste, fruit or vegetables that may have gone off, fruit and vegetable peelings, flowers, tea bags, coffee grounds and crushed egg shells can be composted.

The most common and simplest way to make compost is to use a compost bin in your garden. You can buy one from your local nursery.

A bin helps keep things moist and facilitates the warming that needs to happen for optimal composting. It also helps keep pests away.

When it comes to making your compost heap, you’ll need to be more conscientious about layering, occasionally turning your heap to keep it well-aerated and ensuring it is kept moist. Consider creating a boundary using some posts with wire wrapped around them or old pallets or even a few bricks.   

Start your compost heap off with some woody material to aid circulation. Then add your green and garden waste.

What can I compost?

According to Charlotte, any raw kitchen waste, fruit or vegetables that may have gone off, fruit and vegetable peelings, flowers, tea bags, coffee grounds and crushed egg shells can be composted.

She says homeowners can also compost the contents in their vacuum cleaners, as well as hair and nail clippings.

When it comes to composting, avoid cooked food, meat, fish, dairy, fat, eggs, bread, cake, biscuits and pastries.

Weeds (that have not gone to seed yet), grass, soft cuttings and prunings can also go into the compost bin. Charlotte says larger pieces take longer to break down so consider breaking them up before adding them to your heap.

You can also add waste paper to your compost, including tissues, kitchen towels, egg boxes and brown cardboard. However, she says homeowners should avoid glossy and printed paper. 

What shouldn’t I compost?

Avoid cooked food, meat, fish, dairy, fat, eggs, bread, cake, biscuits and pastries. Charlotte says they rot and attract rats.

Homeowners should also avoid cat and dog excrement, plastics, glossy paper and card, weeds with seeds, diseased plants and leaves, and any garden waste that has been chemically treated.

How do I layer my compost?

Make alternative layers of equal amounts of nitrogen rich greens, which include grass cuttings and fruit peelings, and carbon rich browns like paper, and dry leaves and sticks.

The recommended size for the layers is 30cm - use this as a guide rather than a strict rule.

The composting process can take up to three to six months to produce a lovely rich compost.

Layering browns and greens creates good aeration and helps prevent your compost heap from getting too wet or too dry. Ideally, Charlotte says your compost heap should be moist.

She says if it starts looking soggy, add some dry material and if it starts looking dry, add some greens material. You may need to sprinkle your compost with water if it looks too dry, which often occurs during the hot summer months.

Don’t water your heap regularly or heavily as too much moisture will make it soggy and smelly.

Should I turn my heap?

Turning is a hotly debated topic. According to Charlotte, some believe it to be essential and some consider it a waste of time. Ideally, your compost heap needs a good mix of wet and dry materials, which ensure that it gets essential air and moisture.

Your heap needs heat and microorganisms to aid the composting process. If your heap has all these factors present, leave it to do its thing.

Charlotte says consider giving it a turn if the composting process has slowed down – when it’s not as warm and active as it has been in the past or when it has shrunk down and is looking dense but not fully composted. In this case, turning your heap will add fresh air and fresh food for the microorganisms to continue their work.  

When will the compost be ready?

The composting process can take up to three to six months to produce a lovely rich compost. You’ll know that the composting is ready when it’s turned into a dark and crumbly soil-like substance. It will smell slightly sweet and earthy too.