Composting 101: Where to start and what you can chuck in

702’s John Perlman speaks with Catherine Morris of Green Home.

Listen below:

Composting is good for the environment and a great way to reduce household waste. 

You will have free compost for your garden to help your plants grow better and increase the soil’s ability to retain water.

“It just makes sense on so many levels to divert your waste from landfills… Around 40% of the waste that goes to landfills is green waste that could be composted.”

– Catherine Morris, Founder – Green Home 

Green Home recommends finding a sunny corner in your garden with level, open ground for good drainage.

This will allow the organisms from the soil to help the composting process. 

You can also use a compost bin, which helps to keep everything moist and keeps pets away.

What can be composted

* Raw kitchen waste such as fruit and vegetable cut-offs, flowers, tea bags, coffee grounds and egg shells (crushed);

* Cooked food waste and bread;

* Hair, nail clippings and the contents of your vacuum cleaner;

* Weeds, grass and prunings;

* Waste paper such as tissues, kitchen towels, brown cardboard and egg boxes. Avoid glossy and printed paper.

“An ideal compost heap is made up of browns and greens… the ratio is around one-third green to two-thirds brown, and ideally, layer it.” 

– Catherine Morris, Founder – Green Home

Avoid any meat, dairy, fat and pastry (they attract rats), pet excrement, plastic, weeds with seeds and any chemically treated garden waste.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.