Home Composting
Home composting is a cheap and easy way of providing your garden
with an environmentally friendly garden conditioner. Compost is a
crumbly, brown, soil-like material, which forms when organic
matter decomposes. Adding compost to your soil will improve its
structure and help it retain water when it is dry, both of which
are vital for plants to grow. For more ideas about how to
minimise your waste visit our reduce and reuse page.
Types of Home Composters:
Click the links to find out more...
1. Standard
Composters- for uncooked fruit and vegetables and
garden waste.
2. Bokashi Kitchen
Composters- for all cooked and uncooked kitchen
waste.
3. Wormeries- For most cooked and
uncooked food and garden waste
4. Make Your Own!
Composting Special Offers!
For those interested in home composting, now is the perfect time
to get started. Through Bedford Borough Council, householders can
purchase home compost bins at subsidised prices.
NEW FOR THIS YEAR:
We also have available for purchase reduced
price water
butts, wormeries, a range of composters and composting
accessories. Ordering couldn't be easier, either call
the company direct on 0845 130 6090 or browse the
offers available online at our dedicated web page:
Standard Composter
DO compost
|
DON'T compost
|
| Uncooked fruit & veg peelings |
Meat or dairy products |
| Grass cuttings |
Fat or bones |
| Tea bags & coffee grounds |
Cooked Vegetables |
| Autumn leaves |
Bread |
| Most garden weeds |
Cat/dog litter |
| Soft pruning & clippings |
Food waste |
| Eggshells |
Coal |
| Wood shavings |
Ash |
| Finely cut hedge clippings |
Products soiled with oil |
| Pure wool jumpers |
Metal, glass or plastic |
| Hair & fur |
Nappies |
| Bedding from vegetarian pets e.g.
rabbits |
Tough woody materials |
| Clean shredded paper |
|
Download the
guide to composting at home.
Back to top
Bokashi Kitchen Composter
Currently Subsidised by Bedford Borough Council!
Allows 100% home composting by tackling elements of organic
waste that cannot be put into a traditional composter including
meat, dairy and cooked foods.
Only suitable for those with a compost bin, allotment or garden
to complete the process.
1. Add food waste and bran to first bucket until it is
full.
2. Set it aside for 2 weeks.
3. After this, add 'pickled' contents to your standard
composter or dig it into the garden where it will turn into compost
in 4-6 weeks
4. Meanwhile continue filling the second bucket.
Download the
comprehensive 'How
To Guide' which includes answers
to frequently asked questions.
In July 2012 a two month trial was carried out
with 30 residents. They were asked to complete diaries to
help monitor their progress and the effectiveness of the
system. Read the
full report.
Available for download is a copy of the diary
used for our trial, which also contains hints and tips on how to
reduce food waste, please click the link below. If you use the
Bokashi bin system and would like to fill out a diary please send
it when completed to recycling@bedford.gov.uk, or
if you have printed it to The Waste Services Team, Riverside House,
Room B101, Horne Lane, Bedford, MK40 1PY. This will help us to
ascertain the positives and negatives of using the bins and provide
advice for those that wish to do so.
Bokashi
Composter Diary
Back to
top
Wormeries
Wormeries are relatively small and contained units which create
compost and liquid fertiliser using worms. They can be kept
outside, in a shed, garage or even a balcony. They can be
used all year round and take cook and uncooked:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Fruit and veg (except onions and citrus)
- Garden waste
- Paper and cardboard
Back to top
Make your own compost bin
You can make your own composting bin from wire mesh, wood,
old pallets, bricks, breeze blocks, PVC panels, old packing cases,
chicken wire or stacks of used tyres. The bin you make will work
better if it has a lid or cover, and no gaps in the sides. Position
the bin on bare earth and if possible provide simple drainage with
some woody pruning or large stones. Three possible construction
methods are listed below:
1. Build using 1 metre wooden planks. Build up the sides using
approximately 7-8 planks, nailed firmly using deep nails into four
corner posts. Leave one side open, in which you should slot planks
in place to maintain easy access. If you make two bins, stand them
side by side, so that one wall will be shared saving on wood and
heat. Keep the box(es) covered with either an old carpet or tough
polythene.
2. Staple chicken wire (wire mesh) around four posts, and line
with sections of old carpet. For a lid, use another section of
carpet.
3. If you can find four wooden pallets they will make a quick
and easy composting bin. Use one pallet for each side, tacking
tough polythene onto the inside of each. Fasten the four pallets
together and use a piece of carpet or sheet of plastic to
cover.
Back to top
If you have any general
composting queries please contact the Recycle Now scheme on
0845 600 0323, or click
here.
Alternatively you can
contact the Recycling Team by emailing us at: recycling@bedford.gov.uk.
