Home Composting

Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. It's easy to make and use.

Did you know that composting at home for just one year can save global warming gases equivalent to all the CO2 your kettle produces annually or your washing machine produces in three months?

The compost you make is a nutrient-rich food product for your garden and will help improve soil structure, maintain moisture levels, and keep your soil's PH balance in check while helping to suppress plant disease. It will have everything your plants need including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and it will help buffer soils that are very acidic or alkaline. Compost improves your soil's condition and your plants and flowers will love it!

Getting Started
Compost bins- We have some great offers on compost bins to help get you started. As part of the Recycle for Buckinghamshire partnership home compost bins are offered at a significantly reduced price starting from as little as £15.
Visit www.bucks.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444 for more information.

Knowledge and know how- The Buckinghamshire network of Master Composters can provide advice and assistance to those who prefer a little local knowledge or a helping hand. Become a Master Composter yourself and receive training in techniques for successful home composting and related environmental issues. No previous experience of gardening or composting is required - just enthusiasm and an interest in the issue. For more information call 01296 387797 or email composting@buckscc.gov.uk.

Alternatively Recycle Now and Garden Organic have some great advice and information available online to get you set up.

What can be composted?
Research has shown that even for those who compost almost half the food waste in their bin could be composted!

Yes	No	Maybe
Fruit and vegetable peelings and left over's	Diseased plants or persistent weeds	Potato/tomato remains
Tea leaves and coffee grounds	Coal ash or soot	Sawdust
Crushed egg shells	Dog or cat faeces and litter	Woodchips
Cotton wool	Used nappies	Shredded newspaper
Hedge clippings	Wall paper stripping	Straw
Grass cuttings	Clothes and textiles	Bracken
Leaves, flowers and non-woody pruning's	Glossy paper	Nettles
Small animal droppings and litter	Wood	(These materials will take longer to decompose. Add them only in small quantities for the best results.)
Wood ash and shavings,	Glass or plastic
Paper and soft cardboard (ideally shredded)	Cans, tins or aerosols, Lawn mowings that have been sprayed with weedkiller
Contents of vacuum cleaner bags (woollen carpets only)	Medical materials
Egg boxes	Foil or food trays
Torn till receipts	Evergreen clippings