Composting

You can compost using:

• One or more compost bins. Turn the compost at least once a month and note this method could take 12 months or longer, so have different bins for different stages of the composting process.
• Compost tumblers. Turn your compost at least once a day and add manure to the mix.
• Compost heaps. Create a heap out of timber slats or wire, or on the ground. It should be exposed to direct sunlight with good ventilation. And keep it away from the house. Cover with hessian or a lid to keep in the heat and moisture. Turn it once a week.
• Direct composting. Bury vegetable matter in the ground. It needs to be deeper than 10 cm to keep flies away. Dig deeper if you have a dog. Compost can generate a lot of heat, so create small piles away from young plants.
• Worm farms. Feed the worms weekly. Make sure they can retreat to an area away from their food. If there are food odours, remove excess food until the worm population grows. Avoid too much citrus, onion or pineapple. Keep the farm damp and out of hot sun.

Composting is a completely natural process, but there are things you can do to help along the way. Heat, aeration, moisture and the right size and ratio of ingredients are key. In general, try to:

• place the compost heap in the sun
• keep the compost moist but not soaking wet
• layer the materials
• add manure
• turn the heap.

Larger heaps (greater than one cubic metre) will generate more heat.

What you can add to compost:

• food scraps
• tea bags
• coffee grounds
• paper (not glossy)
• shredded cardboard
• prunings
• leaves
• lawn clippings
• cut flowers
• eggshells
• lint
• pet hair
• animal manure (but not cat or dog poo)
• straw
• sawdust

What you shouldn’t add to compost:

• meat, bread, fish and dairy products are likely to attract rodents, which can attract snakes.
• oils and fats are difficult to break down.
• cat or dog manures can invite harmful bacteria.
• noxious weeds or diseased plants may spread throughout your garden.

For health and safety:

• always wear gloves.
• wash your hands thoroughly after handling compost or soil materials.
• keep your compost moist to prevent airborne spores or bacteria being inhaled.
• avoid working with your compost in a confined space.
• consider wearing a face mask if known to be susceptible to allergies, asthma or other respiratory problems.

Find out about the food organics and garden organics (FOGO) pilot.