How to Compost your Green Waste
Doing your bit for the environment couldn't be easier, not only does the London Borough of Bromley offer curbside collections for recycling of paper, plastic and glass. Did you know you could compost much of your kitchen and garden waste?
You could produce a high quality compost that will help your park grow naturally. You will also be helping to protect your local environment.
Follow these five easy steps
1. Put your compost bin in a sunny spot on bare, loosened soil. This will improve drainage and increase access for worms and bacteria.
2. Add a good mix of organic materials to your composter. This includes grass cuttings, old plants and prunings, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds, egg shells, small amounts of shredded paper and soft cardboard, vacuum dust (only if you have woollen carpets), straw and bedding from vegetarian pets. It is advisable to chop large items into small pieces to help speed up the composting process. Do not compost cat or dog excrement, meat, cheeses, fish or disposable nappies.
3. Try to ensure that your compost is moist but not wet - when you squeeze it in your hand, a few drops of water should be produced. If it is too dry, add some water or fruit peelings; if it is too wet add some dry material.
4. If you want to speed up the composting process you can add a commercially available compost accelerator. However, young nettles are a natural alternative.
5. When your compost is ready it will be dark in colour and will have an earthy smell. It can take from 6 to 18 months depending on the materials used and the time of year. The finished compost will appear at the bottom of your heap, this can then be removed and used in your park. Less broken down green waste provides a good mulch which acts as a weed suppressant on flowerbeds
Further information on waste disposal and safety in the environment can be obtained from the Direct.gov website
You could produce a high quality compost that will help your park grow naturally. You will also be helping to protect your local environment.
Follow these five easy steps
1. Put your compost bin in a sunny spot on bare, loosened soil. This will improve drainage and increase access for worms and bacteria.
2. Add a good mix of organic materials to your composter. This includes grass cuttings, old plants and prunings, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags and coffee grounds, egg shells, small amounts of shredded paper and soft cardboard, vacuum dust (only if you have woollen carpets), straw and bedding from vegetarian pets. It is advisable to chop large items into small pieces to help speed up the composting process. Do not compost cat or dog excrement, meat, cheeses, fish or disposable nappies.
3. Try to ensure that your compost is moist but not wet - when you squeeze it in your hand, a few drops of water should be produced. If it is too dry, add some water or fruit peelings; if it is too wet add some dry material.
4. If you want to speed up the composting process you can add a commercially available compost accelerator. However, young nettles are a natural alternative.
5. When your compost is ready it will be dark in colour and will have an earthy smell. It can take from 6 to 18 months depending on the materials used and the time of year. The finished compost will appear at the bottom of your heap, this can then be removed and used in your park. Less broken down green waste provides a good mulch which acts as a weed suppressant on flowerbeds
Further information on waste disposal and safety in the environment can be obtained from the Direct.gov website