What is composting?

What is composting?

Amy Sims (Communications Manager) gives expert video advice on: Why is recycling important?; What items of household waste can be recycled?; How can I reduce the amount of waste I produce at home? and more...

Composting turns organic waste into food for the soil. You can compost anything that has lived and died, ideally food scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, tea bags and coffee grounds. Making good compost is like baking a cake. You need some basic ingredients combined in the right way. Firstly, you need a balance of organic material, then a good structure to allow air to circulate and some warmth to speed up the process. You can simply make a pile in the garden and cover it with an old carpet or you can opt for some form of a bin. You can make your own bin by scewing sections of waste wood together to make a box like structure, but there are many types of home compost bins to buy and many local authorities have special offers to supply low cost bins.