Benefits Of Composting

Going green has never been so important. As the world struggles with the impact of climate change many homes are now searching for greener alternatives to help reduce their carbon emissions. Composting is certainly forging the way toward a greener environment while reducing landfills and creating a more sustainable future.  

The great news is that many councils have also noted the huge benefits of composting facilities. Offering kerbside collections for green garden waste and kitchen waste to transform into golden soil. The trend is also continuing with many food-related businesses now opting to use compostable bio-plastics, allowing consumers to make a more eco-friendly choice when disposing of their rubbish.

Composting For Beginners

What are the benefits of home composting? And how do you get started?

The benefits are enormous when you consider that the typical household can reuse more than 300kilograms of waste each year if they choose to compost – either at home or through a council-run commercial composting facility. That’s a huge amount of waste that is not going into landfills. Not to mention; when food scraps and garden waste are put into landfills, they create methane gas which is the highest carbon emitter, and 84 more toxic than Co2!

Plus, composting is the golden ingredient for soils. So, in essence, our rubbish can be transformed into nutrients that can help us grow bigger, better trees and delicious nutritious vegetables. It’s as simple as starting your own composting regime or getting savvier with what you add to your FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) bins.

#TopTip – if you ensure you tend to your compost regularly and follow the correct guides with the mixture of green, brown materials and water you can make compost that doesn’t attract pests or is overly pungent. Also ensuring you are not adding in pest-attracting foods such as meat, fish, bones, or dairy.

How To Make Compost

Choosing to compost can come in different forms, from tumblers to specially designed buckets, to creating your own small pile in your garden. The size of your composting abilities will be determined by the type of space you have available. The great news is that if you don’t have the space, you can still easily ensure your kitchen waste is disposed of correctly by contacting your local council.

When it comes to creating your own compost there are three main components.

Water
For your compost to develop it’s important that it contains the correct amount of moisture to allow the breakdown of your organic material.

Brown Material
Think dead leaves, sticks, and small branches. Always cut larger pieces down so they can break down easily. These provide important carbon to your compost.

Green Material
This is your kitchen waste, fruit and vegetables and food scraps. Don’t forget your grass clippings also. Greens provide nitrogen to your compost pile. Your green and brown organic material should be about the same amount in your compost bin or pile.

#TopTip; if you are using a compost pile, and not a tumbler or other form of composting consider layering your materials and having different-sized organic matter. This will help your pile break down faster.

Your compost will need to be turned or mixed regularly to help with the breakdown of the organic matter. Many composting enthusiasts also add compost accelerators to their composting sites to help speed up the process. If you are choosing not to use an accelerator your compost could take anywhere from two months to two years to break down.

The compost is ready when the organic matter at the bottom is rich and dark.

How To Start A Compost Bin

If you are a little tight for room, but still want to take advantage of composting the great news is there are many composting kits that come in a bucket format that takes up a small amount of room but will get you on your composting journey immediately! These fantastic products are allowing many urban households to enjoy the benefits of composting.

Choose a portable composting bin that is easy to transport and is of a suitable size for your home, using an accelerator spray is also advised when it comes to smaller home composting.

Benefits of Composting

Not only does composting create beautiful nutrient-rich fertilizer for your gardens it also greatly reduces the amount of rubbish and methane emissions from landfills. Utilising compost in your garden can protect against plant diseases and pests while also encouraging good bacteria in your soil. It also reduces the amount of chemicals you are adding to your garden to encourage it to grow. A win-win for the garden and for the earth!

What To Put In A Compost Bin?

• Biodegradable & compostable bio-plastics (check they are for home use).

• Fruit

• Vegetables

• Coffee grounds & tea bags

• Shredded paper

• Grass clippings

• Crushed eggshells

• Leaves

• Sticks and small branches

• Woodchips & sawdust

What Not To Put in A Compost Bin?

• Dairy products (except crushed eggs shells). These will attract pests and create a smell.

• Plants that have disease.

• Fat and greasy oils

• Bones

• Dog waste or cat waste

• Meat or fish (to prevent pests)

How to Compost – without composting

If you want to help the environment but you do not have the time or garden for composting, there are many ways you can help the environment and ensure you reduce your emissions. Looking out for biodegradable and compostable bioplastics is a great way to ensure you are helping keep the planet green and reducing your environmental impact.

These handy bags can also be great for lining your organic kitchen waste bins. Contact your local council to ask about composting facilities in your area and if they offer FOGO collections. More importantly, ensure you follow the rules and regulations for council composting and only put the correct waste into the FOGO collection.

Happy Gardening!