Home composting
Composting is a natural process that transforms most organic waste into a nutrient-rich additive for your garden. Compost is made through the natural breakdown and decay of organic matter (such as vegetable peelings, leaves, grass and even cardboard), usually in a compost bin in your garden.
Why should I compost?
Around 30% of the average household bin is food waste and much of it is avoidable. Unavoidable food waste doesn’t have to end up in the bin though - composting is a great way to stop it ever becoming waste.
What can I compost?
Most organic materials can be composted. By organic, we mean derived from living things.
There are two types of organic material that can be composted; Greens and Browns.
Greens are items such as vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. They’re quick to decompose and have lots of nitrogen and moisture.
Browns are more fibrous, carbon-rich and create air pockets. Items like cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and small twigs can all go in to compost.
Read the Get Composting Guide to see more examples of what you can (and shouldn’t) compost.
How can I compost?
The great news is that anyone can compost. Whether you have a big garden, a small yard or even live in a flat there are options for everyone.
If you want to compost garden, fruit and vegetable waste...
For keen recyclers and DIY-ers amongst you, a homemade compost bin built from old wood or pallets is a good, low-cost option. If you have a larger garden, this provides good capacity. If you’re short on space or don’t fancy building your own then you can purchase compost bins. We work with Get Composting to offer Blackwall 220 and 330 compost bins at a discounted price.
If you have a garden that doesn’t have any access to soil, or you don’t want to produce lots of compost then a Wormery could be the right choice for you. They contain a colony of worms which digest food waste and small amounts of garden waste.
If you just want to compost all food waste…
A Bokashi bin, Green Cone or Green Johanna could be the answer! These are great space-friendly ways to repurpose food waste.
Bokashi bins are handy worktop sized containers which ferments all food including cooked and raw meat, fish and dairy products.
A Green Johanna is a hot composter, capable of composting garden waste, and all food waste including food, bones, meat and fish, quickly.
Green cones are capable of digesting all of your food waste including bones. They are very low maintenance and all you require is a sunny, well-drained spot of soil for your green cone.
Free compost bins for schools and community groups
We offer free standard compost bins to local schools and community groups. If you would like to apply, please email recycling@derby.gov.uk.
Please note: this is limited to two bins per group.
This video from Recycle Now is a great way to introduce children to composting and the processes involved.