Frequently Asked Questions

How to Dispose of all your waste

 

If you are unsure of how to dispose of an item of waste, this alphabetical list should be able to assist you.  Simply click on the relevant letter below.  If your waste item does not appear in this list, please email customerservices@fareham.gov.uk for advice, and we will endeavour to add it to the list.

 

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

 

A

Aerosols: Can now be collected for recycling; put in blue top recycling bin. They must be empty; please remove loose plastic lids and do not pierce or squash them. Aerosols with orange hazard symbols (e.g. insecticides, oven cleaners, paints and automotive sprays) are not accepted.
Alternate bin collections: Recyclables and refuse are collected on an alternate bin collection service .
Aluminium cans: Put in blue top recycling bin.
Aluminium foil: Cannot be recycled in the household recycling bins; it is a different alloy to aluminium cans. Some charities run a collection; otherwise put in household refuse bin. Clean foil can be recycled at Palmerston Avenue car park; or foil recycling bin at Tesco Bursledon.
Asbestos: Householders can dispose of asbestos from their home free of charge at Port Solent Household Waste Recycling Centre, but they must telephone first to ensure there is enough room in the container; and it must be double wrapped in plastic or polythene sheeting, and they must use a vehicle which fits under the height barrier - 1.75m or 5'9". Visitors to the HWRC who have not done so will be turned away. Not all HWRCs are licensed to accept asbestos. The telephone number for the Port Solent site is 023 9221 9819 Trade companies and builders should contact the Health & Safety Executive (this is an external hyperlink) for advice, on 01256 404000.

 

B

Batteries: Almost all shops which sell batteries now offer a collection point for used household batteries. They can also be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre licensed to take hazardous household waste, visit www.integra.org.uk (this is an external hyperlink) for further details. On arrival at a site, please ask site staff to direct you to the red wheeled bin where the batteries are collected.  All types of household batteries are accepted, as long as they have not started to corrode and leak fluid.  Car batteries must be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Bedding: See Household Textiles.
Blankets: See Household Textiles.
Books: Take to charity shop or book bank
Bottles:

Brita Water Filters: Cannot be put in household recycling bins, but facilities are available. From June 2008, BRITA’s blue recycling bins have been installed at 157 Tesco stores across the UK and at selected Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. BRITA has also set-up in-store recycling schemes with some of the UK’s biggest retailers including: Argos, John Lewis, Robert Dyas and many independent stores. Customers simply need to visit www.brita.co.uk/recycle (this is an external hyperlink)and enter their postcode into the store locator to find their nearest participating retailers.

Building Rubble: Small amounts from households own DIY projects can be taken, in bags to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Commercial builders must arrange disposal of their own waste as this is classed as trade waste and cannot be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Bulky Waste: Fareham Council will collect bulky waste from your property for disposal. Good quality furniture and electrical goods can be donated to the British Heart Foundation shop at 20, West Street, Fareham PO16 0LQ. To arrange free collection within 48 hours, telephone 01329 826025.
 

C

Camping or caravanning gas bottles: Return to camping shop, or take to Household Waste Recycling Centre. Other types of gas bottles are not accepted at HWRCs (225 Kb) PDF logo.
Cans: Put in blue top recycling bin (please rinse). Large metal sweet or biscuit tins can go in the blue top recycling bin, but no larger items. There is a physical size limit because large items will not fit under the magnet which runs over the top of the conveyor belt at the sorting plant. Any tins or cans up to the size of a large tin are acceptable.
Car batteries: Take to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.
Cars and unwanted vehicles: Please visit www.yell.com (this is an external hyperlink) for details of car and commercial vehicle dismantlers.
Car tyres: Household Waste Recycling Centres do not accept car tyres. They can be taken to car breakers or tyre fitting companies which can be found at www.yell.com (this is an external hyperlink). Please ring ahead of your visit.
Cards: Put in blue top recycling bin.
Cardboard: Put in blue top recycling bin.
Catalogues: Put in blue top recycling bin.
CDs, videos, DVDs: Take to charity shop or put in book banks.
Chemicals: Household, for example cleaning, DIY chemicals: Further advice on disposing of hazardous household waste is available.
Christmas trees: Christmas trees can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Abbey Garden Centre in Titchfield (PO15 5RB) collects them for recycling.

Artificial ones can of course be reused.
Clothes, accessories, household textiles: Put in Textile Bank or take to a charity shop. Charity shops can only sell good quality clothes, but clothes which are worn can be recycled in the textile banks.
Coats: See Clothes.
Collection of recyclables and refuse: Recyclables and refuse are collected on alternate weeks.
Complaint or comment? If you have a complaint or comment about rubbish or recycling, please telephone 01329 236100 or email: customerservices@fareham.gov.uk and we will try to help.
Composite cartons, waxed juice or milk cartons: Cannot be recycled; put in household refuse bin.
Computer equipment: See WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Confidential waste: Confidential papers should not be put into the blue top recycling bin because this is not a confidential collection. If you shred your confidential documents, please see the 'Shredded paper' entry for advice.

Cooking Oil: See entry under 'Oil'.

D

Directories: Put in blue top recycling bin including Yellow Pages - they can now be recycled through the blue top bin.
Drink cans: Put in blue top recycling bin (please rinse).
Duvet covers: See Household Textiles.
Duvets: Cannot be put in textile banks; dispose of in refuse bin if they are beyond reuse through a Charity Shop.
DVDs, CDs, videos: Take to charity shop or put in book banks.

 

E

Electrical goods: Good quality electrical goods and furniture can be donated to the British Heart Foundation shop at 20, West Street, Fareham PO16 0LQ. To arrange free collection for large items within 48 hours, telephone 01329 826025. Broken items should be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, or Fareham Council will collect bulky waste from your property for disposal. Small items such as toasters can be put in the refuse bin.

Engine Oil: See entry under 'Oil'.

 

F

Fire Extinguishers: Take to Household Waste Recycling Centre. If it contains Halon, a hazardous gas which is now prohibited, please visit www.yell.com (this is an external hyperlink) for a company which deals with Fire Extinguishing Equipment.

Fish tank chemicals: If hazardous, they should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Flower pots & trays: Put in refuse bin or re-use.

Foil: See Aluminium foil.
Food tins: Put in blue top recycling bin (please rinse).
Food waste: Meat, fish, cooked food: Put in household refuse bin. Food waste can be disposed of at home in a special food waste digester. Uncooked fruit & vegetable waste: Put in home composter, or in household refuse bin.
Freezers: Fareham Borough Council will collect freezers. Please telephone 01329 236100. The British Heart Foundation shop will take good ones, see 'Furniture' for details.
Fridges: Fareham Borough Council will collect fridges. Please telephone 01329 236100. The British Heart Foundation shop will take good ones, see 'Furniture' for details.

Fruit peelings (uncooked): Put in home composter, or in household refuse bin.
Furniture: Good quality furniture and electrical goods can be donated to the British Heart Foundation shop at 20, West Street, Fareham PO16 0LQ. To arrange free collection within 48 hours, telephone 0844 499 4150. Fareham Borough Council will collect bulky waste from your property for disposal.

 

G

Garden waste: Put in home composter, or take to Household Waste Recycling Centre, or use the Council's Garden Waste Collection Service.
Gas bottles: Domestic camping/caravanning lpg bottles - return to camping shop, or take to Household Waste Recycling Centre Other types of gas bottles are not accepted at HWRCs (225 Kb) PDF logo.
Glass: Take to Glass Bank.

 

H

Handbags: See Clothes.
Hats, scarves etc: See Clothes.
Hazardous waste from the household, for example cleaning, DIY chemicals: Further advice on disposing of hazardous household waste is available.

Household textiles, eg duvet covers, blankets, curtains, towels, tablecloths etc: Put in Textile Bank or take to a charity shop. Charity shops can only sell good quality items, but worn ones can be recycled in the textile banks. Duvets, pillows and sleeping bags cannot be put in textile banks; dispose of in refuse bin if they are beyond reuse through a Charity Shop.
How much waste are we recycling?

 

J

Jars: Take to Glass Bank. Metal lids can go in blue top recycling bin.
Juice cartons: Cardboard ones cannot be recycled. Put in household refuse bin. Plastic bottles: put in blue top recycling bin.
Junk mail: Put in blue top recycling bin; put all plastic wrapping in household refuse bin. See Plastic Bags entry for details of a recycling company where you can post the plastic film wrappings. Contact the Mailing Preference Service (this is an external hyperlink) to reduce junk mail (and unwanted telephone calls & faxes).

K

Kitchen waste: Meat, fish, cooked food: Put in household refuse bin. Uncooked fruit & vegetable waste: Put in home composter, or in household refuse bin.

 

L

Lids: Metal jar lids - put in blue top recycling bin. Bottle lids (for example beer bottles, metal screw caps) - put in refuse bin. They are too small for the recycling processing machinery, which screens them out. Plastic milk bottle lids are no longer being collected by Naomi House Children's Hospice shops, or by Fareham Shopping Centre.

Light Bulbs: Standard light bulbs can be put in the refuse bin. Flourescent tubes should be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre which accepts hazardous waste.

Low energy light bulbs: Take to a Household Waste Recycling Centre which accepts hazardous waste.

Liquids: No liquid of any sort is acceptable in the refuse bin because it spills out along the road.
Litter: Street sweepings and litter from bins are disposed of to landfill.
LPG bottles: Domestic camping/caravanning lpg bottles - return to camping shop, or take to Household Waste Recycling Centre Other types of gas bottles are not accepted at HWRCs (225 Kb) PDF logo.

 

M

Magazines: Put in blue top recycling bin.
Margarine tubs: Cannot be recycled, put in household refuse bin.
Meat, fish: Put in household refuse bin. Food waste can be disposed of at home in a special food waste digester.

Mercury thermometers: Take to a Household Waste Recycling Centre which accepts hazardous waste. If the thermometer is broken, take great care when collecting the mercury. Wear rubber gloves, and collect the mercury into a glass jar with a lid.

Milk bottle tops: Plastic milk bottle tops can no longer be taken to the RSPCA Stubbington Ark Centre. There are two other local outlets we are aware of:

  • G.H.S Recycling Ltd, 32 Ackworth Road, Shawcross Ind Park, Hilsea, Portsmouth, PO3 5JP. Telephone 0808 100 1456 for further information.
  • Unit 7, Wren Farm Industrial Estate, Castle Lane, North Baddesley, Southampton, SO52 9LY (weekdays and on Saturday mornings from 9a.m.—12 noon). Their contact numbers are 07884 220173 or 07795 412662. The tops are recycled into plastic wheelie bins, sign posts and even plastic decking and the company pays Gift of Sight for each tonne of tops recycled. Milk bottle tops can no longer be delivered to the Eye Unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Mobile phones: Can be recycled by a variety of charity schemes, or take to Oxfam shop. Waste & Recycling Officers have envelopes available to post phones for recycling for charity; please contact us if you would like one. Alternatively, visit Recycling Your Mobile (this is an external hyperlink) for further information.
Metal: Cans and tins: put in blue top recycling bin. Other metal items can be recycled at the Household Waste Recycling Centres or put in the refuse bin.
Metal lids: Jar lids - put in blue top recycling bin. Bottle lids (for example beer bottles, metal screw caps) - put in refuse bin. They are too small for the recycling processing machinery, which screens them out.

 

N

Nappies: Put disposable nappies (bagged) in household refuse bin. The Fareham & Gosport Real Nappy Network offers advice on real nappies. For companies offering laundering services for reusable nappies, please visit www.yell.com (this is an external hyperlink). For more information on the benefits of reusable nappies, please visit the Women's Environmental Network (this is an external hyperlink).
Newspapers: Put in blue top recycling bin.

 

O

Oil: Cooking Oil: Small amounts of used cooking oil from a household can go in the household refuse bin. Please put the oil in a sealed container such as a glass jar or plastic bottle with a lid, or use rags to soak it up and put them in a plastic bag. Solidified cooking fat can also go in the refuse bin, sealed in a plastic bag. Traders and commercial premises must make arrangements to dispose of used cooking oil through a waste disposal company.

Oil: Engine Oil: This is classed as hazardous waste, and must be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre which accepts hazardous waste. Further advice on disposing of hazardous household waste is available.

 

P

Paint tins: When empty, put in refuse bin, but tins must be empty. No liquid is acceptable in the refuse lorry because it will spill out along the road. Paint tins cannot be recycled, even metal ones. Paint tins, even if completely empty, are not suitable to be put through the Materials Recovery Facility sorting process, and so should not be put into the household recycling bin. They cannot be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre; empty steel paint tins are not permitted in the metal container; (even if 'completely' empty). This is because any residues in the tin are likely to be hazardous waste as metal paint tins are normally used for solvent based paints. Any remaining liquid paint which is solvent-based can be taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre which accepts hazardous waste.

Paper: Put in blue top recycling bin.
Paper (shredded): See 'Shredded paper'.
Peelings (uncooked): Put in home composter, or in household refuse bin.
Performance: How much waste are we recycling?
Pet waste: Put in household refuse bin. Bedding from vegetarian animals (Guinea pigs, rabbits etc) can go in a home composter. Cat and dog faeces must go in household refuse bin, not a home composter.
Pillow cases: See Household Textiles.
Pillows: Cannot be put in textile banks; dispose of in refuse bin if they are beyond reuse through a Charity Shop.
Plastic bottles: Put in blue top recycling bin (please rinse and remove lids).

Plastic plant pots: Put in refuse bin, or re-use. Abbey Garden Centre at Titchfield no longer accept them for recycling. The Household Waste Recycling Centre at Segensworth take them for recycling. If you know anywhere else that takes them, please email customerservices@fareham.gov.uk and we will add it to this list.
Plastic pots, for example yogurt pots, margarine, ice cream tubs: Cannot be recycled; put in household refuse bin.
Plastic bags: Reuse for shopping or bin liners; dispose of in household refuse bin. Some charity shops collect them to reuse, and some supermarkets have recycling banks in-store for them. Plastic and polythene bags and mailing wrappers can be sent for recycling to Polyprint in Norfolk (this is an external hyperlink). You have to pay postage, and ensure that no biodegradable bags are included because they cannot be recycled. Please check the company's web site for full details.
Problem? If you have a problem with rubbish or recycling, please email customerservices@fareham.gov.uk and we will try to help.
Printer cartridges: For companies offering a printer cartridge refilling or recycling service, please visit www.yell.com.(this is an external hyperlink). Waste & Recycling Officers have envelopes available to post cartridges for recycling for charity; please contact us if you would like one. For Epson cartridges, please visit the Epson website (this is an external hyperlink).

R

Recycling rate: How much waste are we recycling?
Recycling and refuse collections: Recyclables and refuse are collected on alternate weeks.
Refuse: Put in household refuse bin. Any waste beside the bin will not be collected. Excess can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres.

 

S

Sheets: See Household Textiles.

Shoes: Put in Textile Bank or take to a charity shop.
Shredded paper: Cannot be recycled in blue top bins because it clogs up the machinery at the sorting plant. Put in refuse bin, or it can be composted in a home composter; mix well with wetter material such as grass clippings. It can also be put in a paper bank, these are emptied and the paper taken straight to the mill so shredded material will not be lost. More information on shredded paper is available (this is an external hyperlink).
Sleeping bags: Cannot be put in textile banks; dispose of in refuse bin if they are beyond reuse through a Charity Shop.

 

T

Tablecloths, cloth napkins etc: See Household Textiles.

Televisions: See WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Tetrapaks: Cannot be recycled; put in household refuse bin.
Textiles: See Household Textiles or Clothes.
Tins: Put in blue top recycling bin (please rinse and remove lids).Large metal sweet or biscuit tins can go in the blue top recycling bin, but no larger metal items. There is a physical size limit because large items will not fit under the magnet which runs over the top of the conveyor belt at the sorting plant. Any tins or cans up to the size of a large tin are acceptable, except paint tins. Paint tins are not recyclable - see the "paint tins" entry in this  A-Z.
Tyres: The Household Waste Recycling Centres no longer accept tyres. You are advised to contact your local garage or car breaker. Most tyre fitters will take your old tyres if you have bought new ones from them. If you have a lot, please visit www.yell.com (this is an external hyperlink) for details of tyre dealers, who may take them for disposal, but will charge.

 

V

Vegetable waste: Uncooked: Put in home composter, or in household refuse bin. Cooked: Put in household refuse bin.
Vehicles: Please visit www.yell.com (this is an external hyperlink) for details of car and commercial vehicle dismantlers.
Videos, CDs, DVDs: Take to charity shop or put in book banks.

 

W

Waste collection: Recyclables and refuse are collected on alternate weeks.

Water Filters: See Brita entry.
Waxed cartons, for example fruit juice, milk, fabric wash cartons: Cannot be recycled; put in household refuse bin.

WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment: This includes all electrical equipment such as TVs and computers. Householders can take items to theHousehold Waste Recycling Centres. There are a number of companies who may take computer equipment for recycling. Jamie's Computer Club (this is an external hyperlink), in Southampton take equipment for reuse. it-green.co.uk (this is an external hyperlink) are licensed to remove IT waste from premises within the UK . Maxitech Limited (this is an external hyperlink) provide a recycling service for computer and electronic equipment for local businesses in the Fareham area. Green Magnet (this is an external hyperlink) will collect from householders for a small charge.
Wrapping paper: Cannot be recycled, it is often not paper but plastic based. Put in household refuse bin.

 

X

Xmas trees: Take to the Household Waste Recycling Centres. Artificial ones can of course be reused.

 

Y

Yellow pages: Can now be recycled in blue top recycling bin, or put in paper banks. You can avoid having a paper copy at all by using yell.com (this is an external hyperlink). To cancel delivery of future directories to your address, call the Directory Team on 0800 671 444.
Yogurt pots: Cannot be recycled; put in household refuse bin.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is my refuse/recycling/garden waste due to be collected and where is it taken?
We collect recyclables in your blue top bin one week, and the following week we collect refuse in the green bin. You get a collection every week, alternating between recycling and refuse. Garden waste is collected on the same day as your recycling. Your recyclables are transported to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Portsmouth where they are sorted and sent for processing into new items. Your general waste is taken to the Energy Recovery Facility in Portsmouth, where it is burned cleanly to generate electricity for the National Grid. Very little of Fareham''s household waste is now landfilled.



What shall I do with my garden waste?
One sack of garden waste is collected free from each household, on the same day as your recycling bin. There is a charge for second and subsequent bags of garden waste.



We will collect extra garden waste in disposable garden waste bags, which can be purchased at a cost of £20 for 25 bags. They can be used for garden waste as you wish, whether you put out one additional bag or a number of bags after a busy weekend in the garden; or share a pack between family and friends. There is no limit to the number of disposable bags each household can purchase, or put out on collection day. Please note we will only collect disposable garden waste bags sold by the Council.



You can buy disposable garden waste bags from our Customer Service Centre by calling 01329 236100 or emailing customerservices@fareham.gov.uk. Alternatively you can take your garden waste to any Household Waste Recycling Centre, or you may wish to try home composting (for more information visit www.recyclenow.com/compost (this is an external hyperlink)).

Please note that you must not put garden waste in your refuse or recycling bins.





How do I order a new bin or garden waste sack?
Bins for refuse or recycling, and garden waste sacks, can all be ordered from our Customer Service Centre by calling 01329 236100 or emailing customerservices@fareham.gov.uk



Why can''t the council take plastic packaging such as food trays and yoghurt pots - can''t I recycle everything with the recycling symbol on them?
Trays, tubs and other plastic packaging are invariably made of different plastic polymer types, and those that are made of the same polymer have a different Melt Flow Index (MFI)anyway. This means that the material will not be consistent, which is the absolute key in plastics processing.

Some examples:

Yoghurt pots can be made from either polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS), and there is no pattern as to which is used where. If you try to manufacture something from a blend of PP/PS you end up with something of no physical strength that will simply delaminate.

Trays could be PP/PS/PVC or others, each of which has radically different melt points and physical properties, so by the time you are melting one polymer in the mix, you could easily be degrading another.



Why can''t the council take glass in the blue top bin?
It is not possible to collect glass and paper together in the same collection vehicle. Some of the glass inevitably gets broken and gets caught up with the paper, making it difficult to process. Please take all glass jars and bottles to the recycling banks.





Is there assistance available to help me put my bin out?
Householders who are disabled or infirm and cannot move their bin or garden waste sack can request an assisted lift. This means the crews will collect the bin or garden waste sack from where you keep it on your property, and return it there.

This service is only offered where there is no other able-bodied person at the property who could put the bin out on the edge of the highway. A Waste and Recycling Officer will visit you to discuss your request.



Where is my local amenity tip and what time is it open?
There are several Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC), across Hampshire. They will take garden waste, bulky items and recyclable and excess household waste. They are unable to accept trade waste.



There are HWRCs at:

Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth; Telephone number 01489 589396
Port Solent; Telephone number 023 9221 9819
Grange Road, Gosport; Telephone number 023 9252 4112
Find your nearest HWRC (This is an external hyperlink).


All sites are open 7 days a week, including bank holidays. They are only closed on 25th and 26th December, and 1 January.

Opening times:
Most HWRCs in Hampshire operate under a ‘three-tier’ system of opening hours, as outlined below:

1 March – 31 March: 8am to 5pm
1 April – 30 September: 8am to 7pm
1 October – 28 February: 8am to 4pm
Check the opening times of your nearest HWRC (This is an external hyperlink).

How can I avoid smells and flies in my bin?
Keep your bin as clean as possible. Ensure all food waste, pet faeces or nappy waste is tightly tied in plastic bags, double-bagged if necessary. If possible, keep the bin in the shade and away from doors and windows.

Keep the lid shut - all waste should fit in the bin and not be so full that the lid will not shut.

Wash your bin out when necessary with boiling water and diluted disinfectant or bleach.

Where can I purchase a Composter?
The offer of discounted composters to Hampshire residents has now ended. Composters are now widely available from garden and DIY centres, supermarkets and other outlets.

More information is available at Recyclenow.com (this is an external hyperlink).





Where shall I site my compost bin?
Your bin must be placed directly on the ground, not on concrete, tarmac or patio slabs. Worms and bugs must be able to enter the bin from the soil below to aid the rotting process. If you find worms in your compost bin it means its working really well! Worms speed up the process still further. You can also get yourself a kitchen caddie with a lid for daily use to collect the waste in the kitchen.



What can I put in my compost bin?
Composting is easy but you do need to get the ingredients right for the fastest results. It''s all a question of balance, and in composting terms that means a balance of greens and browns. There are some things which must not be put in a composter or it will not work and you will attract pests.



The Greens

Fruit and vegetable peelings and scraps (uncooked)
Tea leaves, bags and coffee grounds
Crushed eggshells
Grass cuttings, hedge cuttings and most weeds
Annual plants and flowers
Cut flowers
The Browns

Straw and hay
Wood chippings and sawdust
Cardboard egg boxes
Old perennial plants
Shredded paper and cardboard
Shredded or chopped wood prunings
Leaves
Feathers
Bedding from pet cages (vegetarian only eg guinea pigs, rabbits etc)
Items not to be composted

Cooked vegetables or fruit
Meat, fish
Bones
Cheese and dairy products
Diseased roots or plants
Large unchopped woody branches
Cat or dog litter
Disposable nappies
Plastic, glass or metal
Coal or coke ash
Greens break down quickly and keep things moist. They also produce nitrogen (a harmless plant food).

Browns give compost its fibre and structure. They are rich in carbon, which your garden likes. Browns also create air pockets, which helps the composting process.



My composter is smelling - why is this?
It''s probably too wet or you''ve put in too many grass cuttings. Leave the lid off in dry weather so the excess liquid can evaporate. Remove some of the grass if there''s a lot in there and really mix in some "brown material" such as straw or shredded cardboard. A working compost bin with the lid on should not smell.




I think I should have some compost by now - what''s gone wrong?
Your bin is probably too cold. Leave the lid on and move it to a sunnier area. Or it could be too dry. Add a bit of water and mix in some soft "green material" like vegetable peelings. Or it could need more air. Loosen it up with a fork and mix in some new material.





Will my composter attract rats?
A composter should not attract rats. There is much more information on how to deter rats on the Recycle Now website (this is an external hyperlink).





When I open the lid of my composter I get a swarm of flies - why is this?
Some insects are needed to make good compost but swarms indicate an imbalance. You''ve probably got too much "green material" in there. Try a covering of "brown material".


Why woujld I have ants in my composter? Would they disrupt the process at all?
Ants won''t do any harm, and may help by creating air pockets with their tunnels. If you want to deter them try watering the compost for a few days.



I would like further composting information. where should I go?
More information on composting is available at www.recyclenow.com/compost (this is an external hyperlink).



If you would like further information on composting or recycling in general please telephone 01329 236100 or email customerservices@fareham.gov.uk.