Advice needed for a composting newbie!

PinkPeach

I've just had my first ever compost bin delivered and have been having a look on the local council webiste for information as to what is ok/not ok to put in it.
I've noticed that you seem to need a mixture of 'green' and 'brown' items, with paper being included as brown. Can this include paper with lots of ink on it such as flyers I get through the mail advertising take-away pizzas or ceareal boxes which also seem to be brightly coloured?
I'm excited to get this going but don't want to do anything wrong so any general advice would be really welcome :j

a11waysindebt

I don't put flyers or heavily printed paper in mine. I do put boxes cut up in it sometimes and shredded paper. I top it all off with waste from my Bokashi.

Kay_Peel

Newspapers and shredded bills are best. Scrunch the newspaper pages into balls - they will leave air pockets and will aid circulation. Mix shredded letters with grass cuttings. Make sure you tear up pieces of cardboard into smaller bits. The smaller the material the quicker it will compost.

Good luck - it's addictive.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I was thinking of getting one, local council are doing a 220 litre for £8, but it says it had to be placed on soil, I was wanting to tuck mine behind the garage on concrete, would it still 'work'.

Also, I wondered if there is any nasty smell with it, or if it would attract nasties?

Zazen999

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

I was thinking of getting one, local council are doing a 220 litre for £8, but it says it had to be placed on soil, I was wanting to tuck mine behind the garage on concrete, would it still 'work'.

Also, I wondered if there is any nasty smell with it, or if it would attract nasties?

Yes, you can put it on concrete. Dig up some soil and throw it in and the worms in it will multiply.

Of course you will get a few nasties; a few flies when you open it and it will smell a bit whilst it is composting, but if you layer it properly, add plenty of paper and cardboard, and scrunch it up to leave air pockets; then when it comes to getting it out the bottom it should be lovely and friable.

lethal0r

i have mine on concrete. its coming on well. at first there were loads of slugs up at the top by the lid! but now I hardly see any. anyone know why? is it because its warm in there now its composting and slugs dont like warmth??

is it ok to put avocado stones in them? they are quite big like golf balls, ive put afew in already.

Tia_Maria06

Thanks OP for this, I've wanted to ask the question too for a while. I dont have a bin, so can
I corner off a bit of the garden, put a fence panel or something like that and throw my compostable stuff in??

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Tia_Maria06 wrote: »

I dont have a bin,

if you google 'waste aware' you might find that your local council is doing an offer, I can get the 220 litre for £8 mrp £39.

Lotus-eater

lethal0r wrote: »

at first there were loads of slugs up at the top by the lid! but now I hardly see any. anyone know why? is it because its warm in there now its composting and slugs dont like warmth??

is it ok to put avocado stones in them? they are quite big like golf balls, ive put afew in already.

Possibly, on the slugs, all the lickle animals will stay away while it heats up, then come back.
Never put avocado stones in there myself, but I would think they will still be there in 12 months when you dig it out,

Tia_Maria06 wrote: »

Thanks OP for this, I've wanted to ask the question too for a while. I dont have a bin, so can
I corner off a bit of the garden, put a fence panel or something like that and throw my compostable stuff in??

You can, but you may be more succesful building a proper bin out of wood or buying one. Keeps the rain off and keeps it warmer.