Compost is a rich dark soil-like material you can produce by mixing together natural products, such as unwanted garden materials and organic kitchen waste. It acts as a natural fertiliser and is full of nutrients to use on your garden.
Home composting is also an ideal way to help get rid of your organic waste naturally, away from landfill sites and help you contribute positively to the environment.
Buying compost bins
You can also order your compost bin by calling 0844 571 4444 quoting reference HOU03L.
The 220-litre compost bin is £6 plus £5.49 delivery charge and the 330-litre compost bin is £9 plus £5.49 delivery charge. Additional products like wormeries and larger compost bins are also available to buy.
Making good compost
To make good compost all you will need is a good mixture of "greens" and "browns.”
The "greens" break things down quickly and keep things moist. Greens include tea bags, grass cuttings, vegetable peelings, salad leaves, old flowers and nettles, coffee grounds and rhubarb leaves.
The “browns” give your compost its fibre and structure. Browns include crushed egg and cereal boxes, toilet and kitchen roll tubes, corrugated cardboard and paper, straw and hay, sawdust and wood chippings.
1. Find the right site - Ideally site your compost bin in the garden on bare soil. If you have to put your compost bin on concrete, tarmac or patio slabs, ensure there's a layer of soil or existing compost on the bottom so the worms can colonise. A stack of newspapers can also be used to line the bottom of the compost bin.
2. Add the right ingredients - Fill your kitchen caddy with everything from teabags to vegetable and fruit peelings. Take care not to compost cooked food, meat or fish.
3. Fill it up -Empty your kitchen caddy along with your garden waste into your compost bin. A 50/50 mix of greens and browns is the perfect recipe for good compost.
4. Sit back and relax - It takes between six to nine months for your compost to become ready to use, so now all you need to do is sit back and wait.
5. Ready for use - Once your compost has turned into a crumbly dark material, resembling thick moist soil sand gives off an earthy aroma you know it’s ready to use.
6. Collect the compost - Lift the bin slightly or open the hatch and scoop out the fresh compost with a garden fork or spade.
7. Use it - Don't worry if your compost looks a little lumpy with twigs - this is perfectly normal. Use it to enrich borders and vegetable patches. It can also be used to plant up patio containers or feed the lawn.
For further information including frequently asked questions about composting please click on the useful links on the right.
Contact us
E-mail: recycling@hounslow.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8583 5555
Waste and Recycling Services
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
