South Derbyshire District Council

Home Composting is one of the most worthwhile recycling activities you can do. Did you know that about a third of your rubbish is compostable? We offer a discounted home composter scheme see details below.

Join the Derbyshire Eco Challenge

..... and receive timely tips for reducing your waste. Details available at the bottom of this page under 'Related documents'.

Discounted compost bin scheme

We are now working in partnership with Even Greener, suppliers of discounted compost bins.

Home Composting bins are available at a cost of:

£16* for a 220 Litre Blackwall compost convertor
£19* for a 330 Litre Blackwall compost convertor
There is a £5.49 per order delivery charge

*charge from 1 April 2012

There are also various other products available including wormeries, caddy liners, aerators, and water butts all at highly competitive prices.

To order your products and find out more information visit Even Greener’s website: http://www.derbyshire.getcomposting.com (opens in a new window) or call 0844 571 4444.

Compost

Helps your garden
Feeds and improves your soil
Suppresses weeds
Improves growth of plants

Composting

Helps our environment
Saves landfill space
Recycles nutrients
Prevents soil erosion
Saves You Money
Free soil nutrient
Less watering required

What is a composter?

Composters are special plastic bins for the garden. Waste deposited in a composter rots down to make garden compost or mulch.

Composting with a composter prevents odour that you would normally find from an open compost heap.

Why compost?

The majority of waste is disposed of in landfill sites throughout the country. South Derbyshire are committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill sites. Analysis of South Derbyshire’s waste shows that 38 per cent of the average household wheeled bin is comprised of compostable organic material.

Organic waste is biodegradable and when it is buried in landfill sites it rots and produces methane gas. Methane is a powerful ‘greenhouse’ gas and can escape into buildings near landfill sites and lead to explosions.

It is not necessary to send organic waste to landfill sites as it can be easily converted into a useful product by householders. Compost bins can be purchased which convert food waste and other organic material into compost. Composting is one of the Best Practicable Environmental Options for the reduction of waste to landfill.

It is possible to reduce 38 per cent of the waste in a bin without causing any environmental damage. This is more environmentally friendly than recycling as no energy input is required for transport or in the recycling process.

How to get the best results from your compost bin

Where is the best place to put a compost bin?

For the best results your compost bin should be positioned in a sunny spot on well drained soil. The soil below the bin should be loosened to improve drainage and increase access for worms and bacteria.

Place a few inches of kitchen waste on the soil at the bottom of the bin, this will attract worms and bacteria to the bin and increase the rate of compost formation. For the best results, organic waste should be put in the bin in layers of different material between six and 12 cm deep.

What can I put in my composter?

You can compost almost anything that is organic, i.e. anything that has been grown. This includes:

fruit and vegetable scraps
tea bags and coffee grounds
eggshells
grass cuttings
prunings and leaves
small amounts of ripped up paper and card
pet and human hair
pet straw and wood shavings

To ensure a successful result you should avoid home composting:

cat and dog excrement
meat
cheese
fish
disposable nappies
glossy printed paper and card

For best results, ensure your compost bin contains some grass cuttings or vegetarian animal manure. They heat up and speed up the composting process. However they should be layered with other organic waste to avoid slime formation.

It is essential that your compost bin is kept warm and moist. Placing the bin in the sun and out of the wind is therefore preferable. Ensure you always put the lid on your compost bin and do not let the compost dry out.

To ensure that air is getting to the centre of the bin, turn the material regularly. This will also speed up the decomposition process.

How do you know when the compost is ready?

Your compost is ready for use when the material does not resemble anything that you put in the bin. Collect the compost from the small hatch at the bottom of the bin. The compost can then be spread on the garden where it will act as a fertiliser.

Contact details

South Derbyshire District Council
Waste Development Team
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH

Tel: 01283 595795
Online: contact form
email: waste.cleansing@south-derbys.gov.uk - please include your name and address on your email, as it helps us to send a reply with the correct information much faster

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Composting at home