Composting - Luton BC

Get Composting now with our new campaign and low-cost compost bins.

START HOME COMPOSTING TODAY AND BUY THE BIN THAT MAKES YOUR GARDEN BEAUTIFUL!

To order compost bin visit: www.luton.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.

Why compost?

At least 30% of your household bin could be composted!

A lot of people think that garden waste is the only thing that you can put into your compost bin. But there are actually loads more everyday waste items from your home and garden that you can add to enrich your compost.

Where is the best place to put a compost bin?

For the best results from your compost bin it should be positioned in a sunny spot on well drained soil. The soil below the bin should be loosened to improve drainage and increase access for worms and bacteria. Place a few inches of kitchen waste on the soil at the bottom of the bin, this will attract worms and bacteria to the bin and increase the rate of compost formation.

How to get the best results from your compost bin?

For best results, ensure your compost bin contains good mixture of ‘’Greens’’ and ‘’Browns’’ .Grass cuttings or vegetarian animal manure are very good to heat up and speed up the composting process. However they should be mixed with other organic waste to avoid slime formation.

For the best results, organic waste should be put in the bin in layers of different material between 6-12 cm deep.

What can I put in my compost bin?

You can compost almost anything that is biodegradable, this includes:

GREENS:

Fruit and vegetable scraps
Tea bags and coffee grounds including filter paper
Grass cuttings
Vegetable peelings
Old flowers
Nettles
Spent bedding plants
Comfrey leaves
Young annual weeds (e.g. chickweed and speedwell), avoid perennial weeds such as dandelions and thistle and weeds with seed heads
Pond algae and seaweed

BROWNS:

Dry leaves, twigs
Hedge trimmings
Shredded or torn paper
Egg shells and egg boxes
Cardboard and newspaper (scrunched up)
Straw and hay
Bedding from vegetarian pets
Wool and feathers
Ashes from wood, paper or charcoal
Corn cobs & stalks

THINGS TO AVOID:

No meat scraps
No nappies
No dairy products such as cheese
No fish
No cat/dog litter
No cooked vegetables and leftover food from our plates
No diseased plants
No other waste and recyclables materials

It is essential that your compost bin is kept warm and moist. Ensure you always put the lid on your compost bin and do not let the compost dry out. To ensure that air is getting to the centre of the bin, turn the material regularly. This will also speed up the decomposition process.

How do you know when the compost is ready?

Finished compost is a dark brown, almost black soil-like layer that you will find at the bottom of your bin which when squeezed in the hand feels moist but not too wet. There shouldn't be any materials left that resemble anything that you put in the bin. Collect the compost from the small hatch at the bottom of the bin. The compost can then be spread on the garden to improve the soil condition.

WATER BUTTS

The water butt is the ideal alternative to tapping into your mains water supply. Great for collecting rainwater from your home, garage, greenhouse or shed and it gives you a great source of water for your garden.

To buy discounted water butts follow this link: www.luton.getcomposting.com