Composting

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Composting is an easy way to make your garden more beautiful. It improves the soil, so plants in your garden become healthier and more resistant to disease.

By composting at home, you also reduce the type of waste going to landfill. This means that you will be helping to reduce global warming. Scotland produces 900,000 tonnes of organic waste a year; - that's enough to fill Hampden Stadium more than 18 times!

To make good compost, follow the easy tips below:

• Placing your bin
  It's best to site your bin on a level, well drained spot. This allows excess water to drain out. Placing your bin in a partially sunny spot can help speed up the composting process.
• Put these in
  Like any recipe, your compost relies on the right ingredients to make it work. Ideally, you should have a mix of 50% green waste (vegetable peelings, fruit scraps, grass cuttings and tea bags) and 50% brown waste (egg shells, paper and cardboard).
• Making good compost
  If your compost is too wet, add more browns. If it is too dry, add some greens. Add cardboard items such as egg boxes to create air pockets and if possible, mix your compost regularly.
• Using your compost
  Your compost should be ready in 6 to 18 months. Finished compost is black and crumbly and has an earthy smell.

To get the best compost out of your bin, here's a list of the materials that you should and shouldn't compost.



If you would like more information on composting visit your local composting advisor.

• web: Zero Waste Scotland
• call: 0845 600 0323
  

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