Composting

By composting your kitchen and garden waste you can easily improve the quality of your soil and be well on your way to a more beautiful garden. The other great benefit of composting is that it helps to reduce waste.

Low cost compost bins

Kirklees residents can buy low cost home compost bins through a partnership scheme between the council and an organisation called WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).

• 220 litre compost bins are available at £17.
• 330 litre compost bins are available at £20.
• 250 litre square style compost bins are available at £40.

All bins come with free delivery. Kirklees residents should call the order line on 0845 077 0757 quoting reference HCA2, or you can order compost bins online.

Kirklees residents are allowed up to 3 compost bins per household through this scheme. This offer is available until 31st March 2009.

What you can put in your compost bin

Compost relies on the right ingredients to make it work. Good things you can compost include:

• Vegetable peelings
• Fruit waste
• Teabags
• Plant prunings
• Grass cuttings

These are called “Greens.” Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture.

Other things you can compost include:

• Cardboard egg boxes
• Scrunched up paper
• Crushed eggshells
• Fallen leaves

These are called “Browns”. Browns are slower to rot. They provide fibre and carbon and also allow important air pockets to form in the mixture.

What you shouldn't put in your compost bin

Certain things should never be placed in your bin. These include:

• Cooked vegetables
• Meat
• Dairy products
• Diseased plants
• Dog poo or cat litter
• Baby’s nappies

Putting these in your bin can encourage unwanted pests and can also create odour. Also avoid composting perennial weeds (such as dandelions and thistle) or weeds with seed heads. Remember that plastics, glass and metals are not suitable for composting and should be recycled separately.