Frequently Asked Questions

• What should I put at the bottom of the compost bin?

  Generally speaking it is not essential to add anything in particular to the bottom a compost bin.  It is important to site your bin on open soil.  read on

• What type of foods can I put into the compost bin?

  The best food based ingredients for your compost bin are the raw peelings, cores and scraps from your fruit and vegetables. Tea bags, coffee grounds and crushed eggshells are also valuable to the c... read on

• What style of bin can I use to recycle food waste without attracting rodents?

  Assumptions are made about how rodents have been attracted to gardens. Compost bins are often blamed. This is not the case. If there are rodents in the locality, they will take advantage of the she... read on

• If the Komp250 compost bin is easy to assemble, will it fall apart easily? How strong is it?

  The Komp250 is a popular compost bin with the advantage of several options of opening sections of the sides; either at ground level to access the compost or higher up to add waste material to the b... read on

• Can I stand my compost bin on a patch of garden where ground elder and bindweed grow or will these weeds flourish in the rotting compost?

  The ground elder and bindweed roots will potentially grow into the compost produced inside the bin. If the garden area where you plan to use the compost is not free of these weeds then I wouldn't a... read on

• Can I start to first fill my compost bin at any time of the year or is there a season in which it is best to start?

  You can start composting at any time of the year. Autumn is a popular time as many gardeners begin the tidy up in anticipation of the winter months. Spring is also a good time, as it ties in nicely... read on

• Do you have to put the insects into the compost bin? If not, how do they get in?

  These insects will enter your compost bin from the soil in your garden; therefore it is recommended that your composting bin is situated on bare soil.  This will help all of the beneficial insects ... read on

• What are the best conditions for a compost heap?

   A compost heap, or compost bin, is best situated where it will get some sunshine during the day to warm it up and help with the composting process.  If you can ensure that a 50:50 mix of 'greens' ... read on

• We are in the process of buying chickens for our home. We have a small garden, where should we site our compost bin?

  Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) advise that if you keep poultry, you may compost your kitchen scraps at home but you must do so in an enclosed container. However, they do... read on

• I live on a windy hilltop with almost no shelter to site the compost bin. Can it be secured to the ground in any way?

  There’s no easy way to secure a plastic compost bin to the ground. If your site is that exposed it may be better to build a wooden composter that you can secure with driven-in stakes. read on