HOME COMPOSTING

Different methods of waste disposal have become hot political issues in recent times. Under European Law, its members must reduce the amount of "waste" going to landfill, particularly organic waste that can be composted. Composting is seen as the best option in a waste disposal hierarchy which has landfill as the worst. Starting from our homes, we can all do our bit to promote and facilitate composting and to ultimately reduce the amount of this organic material going un-necessarily into our landfills.

When this organic material is in our landfills it goes anaerobic. This means that it decomposes without the presence of oxygen. The result of this is that the highly potent gas Methane is released. This very harmful GreenHouse Gas is made up of Carbon and Hydrogen (CH4) and the carbon content of its composition is one of the main contributors to global warning.

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Organic waste mainly consists of Food and Garden waste. All this material can be composted. As a good rule of thumb, "Anything that was once living, either plant or animal can be composted"

All natural products that were once part of a living organism will slowly rot if the conditions are right. Composting is a way of accelerating this process by creating the ideal conditions for a variety of small organisms, most of which are only visable through a microscope. When the micro-organisms have done their work and the material is fully broken down biologically the result is a very rich useful fertiliser for soil conditioning.



Successful composting depends on bringing together the correct materials for composting and in the right proportions. There are two types of materials necessary for successful composting.

• Nitrogen Rich Materials (GREENS) - like grass clippings, fresh plants, fruit and veg peelings (basically soft, wet green materials) &
• Carbon Rich Material (BROWNS) - like straw, twigs, dead leaves, even paper or cardboard (basically hard, dry, absorbent Brown materials)

NOTE: Food waste should not be home composted as it creates problems with odours, rodents etc. Raw fruit and Veg peelings is the exception. Food waste can be composted using a home wormery. This is probably for the more experienced home compostor and it is advised that basic home composting techniques using greens or garden waste be tried first.

• When in the correct proportions it all will compost.
• If its too wet, it will stagnate and go smelly
• If its too dry, it will just remain and nothing will happen
• The ideal conditions are that the material needs to be moist but with sufficient air spaces through it for aeration.
• If the above conditions are correct the millions of micro-organisms required for good composting will do their job.

A lot of people try and fail on even the first few attempts to successfully home compost. It comes with a bit of experience and can be very satisfying when you eventually end up with a lovely brown/black rich compost for your flowers beds or whatever.

Home composting can be done in two ways. Firstly, you can create a compost heap at the end of your garden. Put the correct proportions of GREENS and BROWNS together with plenty of air spaces through the heap. Ideally the heap should be covered to keep off un-necessary rain water. The heap will heat up. This is the micro-organisms at work. If the heap cools down then it may need to be turned. This turning will aerate the heap again and the micro-organisms will get back to work and you will be most of the way there to having a useful fertiliser for your flower beds. Remember one thing! Even if you ignore all of the above information and just put all your garden waste in a heap and forget about it, IT WILL COMPOST. It will eventually get broken down and become a useful substance that will enhance your soil, it will just take a little longer.

The second way to Home Compost is to use a home compostor. These home compostors are normally made from plastic and are relatively inexpensive. Do be careful which home compostor you purchase because there are many cheaps ones on the market that do not support easy home composting. In anticipation of this new legislation Clean Ireland Recycling has actively researched the market with regards to home compostors. We believe we have found the most suitably designed home compostor that has all the functionality required for the most successful home composting. Important factors that we have designed into our Home Conmpostor

• 310ltrs capacity
• Rodent proof. (it has a mesh base)
• Designed to facilitate MAXIMUM aeration
• Mesh base comes up the sides a little. This allows air up the bottom but also in the sides.
• Very importantly there is an AERATING CONE in the centre of the compostor. This allows air to get into the middle of the compost.
• Removable side door to allow for very easy access to remove the composted material. Many compostors have a very small opening and is difficult to empty.
• Compostor is designed so that you can remove the fully composted material from the bottom and the material that is not fully composted yet will just move down towards the bottom. This means you can always be removing useful compost without having to wait until the batch is fully finished.

The criteria for these compostors is very similar to composting in a heap. E.g. correct mix of GREENS & BROWNS. Obviously you do not need to worry about covering them as they are covered with a plastic lid.
Successful composting of your garden waste and the creation of your very own non peat based compost for the enhancement of your own garden is very fulfilling and is in many ways a better compost than you would but in the shops.

Some Frequently Asked Question regarding Home Composting

WHY SHOULD I COMPOST?

Approx 40% by weight of the material in your waste bin is organic waste and can be collected in a Brown Bin Food Waste Scheme.  This material will go on for composting or for anaerobic digestion which can create electricity as a by-product. You should home compost your garden waste so that you can create a useful compost for your garden and also so that you can save money in disposal.  Your garden waste should never go in your waste bin or your brown bin for food waste.  It is far too expensive to have to get your garden waste treated externally when you can do it yourself very easily.

WHAT CAN I COMPOST?

Basically anything that had lived either plant or animal can be composted.  Food waste is not suitable for home composting with the exception of raw peelings.  It attracts odours, rodents and other problems.

WILL COMPOSTING ATTRACT RODENTS, PESTS AND DISEASES?

Home composting green or garden waste will not attract any unwanted pests, rodents, odours etc.  These problems arise when people attempt to home compost food waste.  Raw fruit and vegetable peelings are the exception.  Food waste either cooked or raw is best disposed of in a brown bin scheme if available.

I HAVE ONLY A SMALL SPACE IN MY GARDEN WHAT IS MY BEST OPTION?

If you have only a small space then you should only have a small amount of garden waste.  Your best solution is probable an aerated home compostor as mentioned above.  These provide very good aeration which is the single most important criteria for successful composting.

WILL I CREATE A SMELL BY HOME COMPOSTING?

Composting should not create any unpleasant smells.  If you do notice an unpleasant smell then your heap is lacking air.  Add more rigid brown material in order to create air passages through the material and this should alleviate the problem and get everything going again.

WHERE CAN I BUY HOME COMPOSTORS?

You can purchase home compostors from any of the Clean Ireland Recycling offices.  Contact Clean Ireland for details.  From extensive research, Clean Ireland Recycling home compostors are the best on the market as regards value and functionality.

WE WISH YOU HAPPY & SUCCESSFUL HOME COMPOSTING