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Household Composting
Last modified: February 15, 2006 - 10:28 AM
Composting is nature's way of recycling. Composting can reduce your household waste by 50% and is the best natural fertiliser to use in your garden. To start composting, select and set up a compost system which suits you. You can buy compost bins and tumblers. You can make or buy bays or just use a heaped system.
How to start a compost systemCollect food and garden waste and start by adding a 10-20 cm layer of sticks and twigs to the bottom of the compost. Mix one bucket of green (nitrogen rich) and two buckets of brown (carbon rich) material in thin layers into the compost system. Shred or chop large bulky items before placing in the compost system. It's a good idea to add a thin layer of soil between layers to promote compost creatures. Keep compost moist by adding water occasionally. Turn compost regularly to let air in. Compost will take 6-12 weeks depending on your system. Your compost is ready when it is a rich earthy colour like soil.
What to put in your compostNitrogen rich material such as most food scraps, lawn clippings, green garden waste, egg shells and manure. Carbon rich material such as dry leaves, garden wastes, dry grass clippings, paper, cardboard and ash. Don't put bones, meat, fish, fat and dairy products in your compost. These things will go rancid and possibly attract vermin.
Contact details
Lee Dunstan
02 6850 1344 (ph)
02 6852 4170 (fax)
forbes@forbes.nsw.gov.au
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