During the autumn, many residents find that they have too many leaves to go into their composter. For advice on making your own leaf mould, please see this online guide to making leafmould.
Keeping vermin out of your composter
As London has a rat problem, you probably already have rats passing through your garden. Certain things attract rats and this is why we strongly advise not putting certain things into your composter, this is reiterated on all our promotional material.
We recommend you don’t put meat, fish, eggshells or cooked food (seasoning could attract them) into your composter. You can put these items in your food waste bin which will be collected through your normal recycling service.
In the unlikely event that rats do burrow under your composter, there is a way they can be further discouraged.
Take a 2 metre square piece of chicken wire and lay it onto the space where your composter is to be located
Place the compost bin onto the centre of the wire base
Fold the exposed wire up around the sides of your bin
Thread wire around the top edge and secure with a tight knot
The gaps in the mesh will allow worms and other soil organisms in and allow the composter to drain and so will not affect the process. Also, sprinkle some cayenne pepper around the bin to discourage rats from burrowing under the composter.
Contact us
Email: recycling@hounslow.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8583 5555
Waste and Recycling Services
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
