Frequently asked questions

Related information:
Recycling and waste plans

Refuse collection

Composting at home

Composting

Compost is a rich, dark soil-like material you can produce by mixing together natural products such as unwanted garden materials and organic kitchen waste. It acts as a natural fertiliser and is full of nutrients to use on your garden.

Why compost?
Ealing Council offers a collection service for both garden and food waste but composting some of this waste at home is better for the environment and better value for the council.

It is expensive to collect and dispose of waste – particularly waste classed as biodegradable (i.e. food and garden waste).  Although this waste is natural, when it is landfilled, the pockets of air are compressed out.  Without air, greenhouse gases such as methane are produced. This is part of the reason the Landfill Directive has imposed considerable restrictions on the amount of waste dumped.  These restrictions coincide with increasing waste disposal costs that local authorities must pay on behalf of residents. If biodegradable waste is not separated and composted then local authorities may have to pass this cost onto residents. 

Composting at home is an aerobic process, as your compost bin will contain air pockets. Your bin will not produce methane.

Compost bins – special offer
Ealing Council, working in partnership with the government’s RecycleNow campaign, is offering residents reduced prices on compost bins: 

All bins are made from 100% recycled material and the price includes delivery.

Telephone 0845 077 0757 for details on these offers or visit www.recyclenow.com/compost

How to make compost
At least 30% of your household bin could be composted.  Garden waste is not the only thing that you can put into your compost bin.  There are actually many more everyday waste items from your home and garden that you can add to make your compost:

Greens:

Browns:

Compost is produced by alternating layers of some of the natural products listed above. A mix of ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ is important.  The green items contain bacteria that generate the initial heat required by the process.  Mixing in some brown items prevent the contents from becoming a sludgy, smelly mess and will produce the air pockets required by this living ecosystem.

Every few months lift the bin up (the contents should stand like a tower), re-position the bin and fork the contents back in – mixing in water if dry or dry material if soggy.  This is the best way to speed up the rotting process.  The finished compost is when the lower layers are a dark and crumbly material without smell, which is then ready to use on your garden.

The materials break down naturally and reduce massively in volume (you may notice that the level will keep sinking). 

As it’s full of nutrients compost can be used as a natural fertiliser to feed plants, improve soil texture and help your garden retain moisture in dry weather conditions.

To buy an ‘aerator’ (a small tool to make mixing easier) visit RecycleNow.  Bottles of special accelerator fluid are also available to buy, which can speed up the rotting process even further.

Alternatives to composting
The garden waste collection service operates throughout the year or you can take your garden waste to our re-use and recycling centres.

Residents who do not have a garden or enough space could also try using a wormery on a balcony or in the kitchen. Wormeries are easy to use, hygienic and once the unit is sealed it doesn't smell. Worms can live on unwanted food, paper and cardboard reducing household waste and producing valuable natural fertiliser for plants. To find out more or to purchase a wormery contact:

Original Organics Ltd
Tel: 01884 841515
Email: sales@originalorganics.co.uk
Website: www.greengardener.co.uk/worms.htm or www.westcountryworms.co.uk.

Useful links

Garden Organic
A registered charity and Europe's largest organic membership organisation - dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.

RecycleNow
The RecycleNow campaign works closely with councils and retailers to make sure the recycling message is heard. Information includes how and where to recycle and recycled gifts.

Advice on composting is also available in gardening books and magazines