What can I compost?
Composting materials rot at different rates, these can be divided up into
'Greens' and 'Browns'
To make good compost you need a good mixture of greens and browns in the compost bin.
‘Greens’
Greens such as young plants, flowers and grass clippings are low in fibre so without any browns they turn into sludge rather than compost. If there are too many greens in a compost bin it will tend to be wet and unpleasant. ‘Greens’ are activators and are perfect for getting the composting process started because they are rich in nitrogen,
‘Browns’
'Browns' are tough and are difficult to break down by themselves (eg. cereal boxes & straw) however when put in with the 'greens' they help aid the composting process by absorbing the liquid produced by green matter. They also create air pockets to help decomposition.
All paper and cardboard should be scrunched before being placed in the composting bin.
What can I compost
Get started Quick rotting Activators | Keep Going With regular supplies of..... | Slow going with only small amounts of ... |
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| | - Saw dust and wood shavings
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| - Hamster/guinea pig bedding & droppings
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| - Rabbit bedding & droppings
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| - Vacuum & dustpan contents
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- Poultry manure (eg.chickens)
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What can't I compost? - You must never put the following into your compost bin:
- Meat & fish scraps
- Blighted potato tuber or tomatoes (stems are OK to compost)
- Cooked Food
- Fat & oil
- Bones
- Thorny prunings
- Coal, Soot & Coke Ash
- Dog or cat excrement
- Cat Litter
- Disposable nappies
- Glossy Paper or Magazines
- Plastics
- Medical materials
- Diseased plants
- Persistent weeds
Please call Customer Contact at North Dorset District Council on (01258) 484246 or email
recycling@north-dorset.gov.uk
for further information. |
