Frequently Asked Questions

Composting

Please find below links to information on helping you compost, by composting fruit and vegetable at home you can reduce the amount of waste to be disposed of to landfill or energy recovery incineration.

Composting is the responsibility of the Department of Customer Services, Street Scene Services Division.

• Buying a Composter

• How to Compost

• Food Waste Digesters

• What can you compost

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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.