Home Composter Promotion

Tel 01332 255256     Fax 01332 255121     Minicom 01332 256666     email customerservices@derby.gov.uk

What are Home Composters

Home composters are one way in which we can recycle at home.  Made from recycled plastic these bins can be put in your garden and used for disposing of garden and some kitchen waste while at the same time creating a wonderful product to help your garden.

Derby City Council works in partnership with the Recycle Now Campaign to promote home composting, through information and advice as well as supplying reduced price composters.

The Recycle Now Campaign has an excellent section on Home Composting.    Recycle Now Home Composting

For Information on Recycle Now and Derby City Councils subsidised Home Composter Scheme visit Subsidised Home Composters

Why compost at home

Composting is nature's way of recycling and helps to reduce the amount of waste we put in our black bins. By composting kitchen and garden waste you can easily improve the quality of your soil and be well on your way to a more beautiful garden.

Compostable material makes up to 40% of the typical Derby residents wheeled bin. If this material is sent to landfill it rots down and causes greenhouse gasses such as methane.

The Government has set us targets to encourage 40% of residents with gardens to compost at home.

How to get the best results from your compost bin

Where is the best place to put a compost bin

To get the best results from your compost bin, it 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 6 and 12 cm deep

What can I put in my composter

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

• fruit and vegetable scraps
• tea bags, coffee grounds
• crushed eggshells
• grass cuttings, prunings and leaves
• small amounts of shredded paper and soft cardboard
• animal hair
• vacuum dust, if you have wool carpets

The following cannot be put into your composter:

• cat or dog excrement
• meat
• cheese
• fish
• disposable nappies
• shiny card
• hard objects

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 mixed 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.

Recycle Now,  the Government's recycling promotion campaign has some useful information on recycling - go to Recycle Now

Subsidised Home Composters

Home Compost bins can be purchased through the Discounted Bin Scheme. The prices are as follows:

• £17 -  220 Litre Bin - (H90*D80)
• £20 -  330 Litre Bin - (H100*D80)
• £40 -  250 Litre Bin - (H105*D54*W54) 

Prices include VAT and home delivery.

Please allow 28 working days from the receipt of your order

Prices shown are valid until March 2009

For more information call the Ordering Hotline 0845 077 0757 or visit Recycle Now Home Composting.

Free Bins for Schools

Schools in Derby can order up to three compost bins for free!

For more details or to order contact Richard Winter on Tel 01332 715108

To download an excellent Composting at Schools teachers' pack, visit the Recycle Now Home Composting website.