Starting a Compost Bin (Merged Thread)

noonesperfect

I started my in May (I think!) last year and have never noticed any smell. I'm only worried that it's 2/3 full and I'm running out of space now.

I put in mine:-
Fruit and vege peelings
Teabags & coffee grounds
"Clean" used kitchen roll and KR & Loo roll inners.
Egg shells (washed)
Fluff from the tumble drier
Dust/dog hair from vacuum (until my Dyson died)
Thin layer of lawn clippings, but only 2 or 3 times

I found a place to put compost bin (somewhere where it would catch some sun), and put a layer of small twigs in the bottom to facilitate drainage.
After that I just put any of the above (including some male wee (diluted) to help speed things up!) Any earthworms get slung in there that I've found too .

Never under any circumstances put cooked food, meat, fish or animal excreta in compost.

sammiboo

We have a compost bin and our garden is relatively small, it doesnt smell though

We put in:
peelings
eggshell
tea bags
coffee grounds
garden waste


Its fab

arkonite_babe

In the useful links sticky there's some good links on composting which should give you some help

Trembling_Turnip

I live in a shared house with a communal garden and a compost bin. The thing is though the gardener keeps taking the lid off the compost bin - i keep putting it back on because i thought that was what you were supposed to do?!

Is there any scientific reason why he keeps taking the lid off?

GreenNotM

Trembling_Turnip wrote: »

Is there any scientific reason why he keeps taking the lid off?

If there are small flies then the bin is too wet and the gardener is letting the moisture evaporate - conversely the heap is too dry and the gardener is letting the rain in.

cazziebo

My compost bin lid is missing. It may have blown away during the recent high winds, although there are high fences all round my tiny garden. I have checked with near neighbours (and offered to pay for any damage if there was any) but they know nothing!

I don't suppose I can just buy a new lid? Anyone any ideas?

I'm now worried the compost will be ruined with all this rain.....

Mudbath

This happened to us on Saturday night and it was found 7 gardens away! We packed the top of the compost with straw and put plastic sheeting over the top whilst it was missing. If you know the make you could look on line to see if they do spare parts. Hope you find yours.

Zazen999

It will be fine - lid or no lid. How would it be ruined???

annie123

If you want to keep out rain and heat in a piece of wood will work fine.

loulou2702

Hi there - contact the place you bought the bin. We used to sell them at subsidised prices for our local council and we always tried to replace a lid if one went missing.
We dont do them anymore as this scheme is run by Recycle Now direct to customers for Lewisham council. So we dont have any otherwise I would help.
But try where you bought it and they be able to help. Good Luck.