Composting

Composting is nature's way of recycling and helps to reduce the amount of waste we throw away.

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.

We can offer residents home composting bins and water butts at bargain prices through our partnership with evergreener.com - take a look at www.stockton.getcomposting.com to find out how to get yours!

Our easy guide to home composting will give you all the information you need to get the best out of your bin.

Step 1 - Placing the bin

It's best to site the compost bin on a level, well drained spot. This allows excess water to drain out and makes it easier for helpful creatures, such as worms, to get in and get working on breaking down the contents. Placing your bin in a partially sunny spot can help speed up the composting process.

Step 2 - Put these in

Good things you can compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, and plant cuttings. These 'greens' are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture. Other things you can compost include cardboard egg boxes, scrunched-up paper and fallen leaves - these are considered 'browns' and are slower to rot. Crushed eggshells can be included to add useful minerals.

Step 3 - Keep these out

No cooked vegetables, meat, diary products, or diseased plants should be put in the compost bin. And certainly no dog poo, cat litter or nappies. Putting these in the bin will encourage unwanted pests and create a bit of a stink!

Step 4 - Making good compost

The key to really good compost lies in getting the mix right. You need to keep the 'greens and browns' properly balanced. If your compost is too wet, add more browns. If it's too dry, add some greens.

Making sure there is enough air in the mixture is also important. Adding scrunched up bits of cardboard is a simple way to create air pockets that will help keep your compost healthy. Air can also be added by mixing the contents. After 6-9 months your finished compost will be ready.

Step 5 - Using the compost

Finished compost is a dark-brown, almost black soil-like layer that you will find at the bottom of the bin. It has a spongy texture and is rich in nutrients. Spreading the compost into your flowerbeds greatly improves soil quality by helping it to retain moisture and suppressing weeds. Composting is the easiest way to make your garden grow even more beautiful!