bmcc-compostguide-0517.qxp layout 1 …...you can use your senses to tell if it’s alive, what bugs...

Be A CoMpOsTCoNtRiBuToR

YoUrCoMpOsT

GuIdE

FoLlOw tHeSe

eAsY sTeP-bY-sTePiNsTrUcTiOnSAnd wE’lL hAvE

yOu cOmPoStInGiN nO tImE!

BMCC-CompostGuide-0517.qxp_Layout 1 17/05/2017 4:32 pm

Compost is organic materialbroken down over time thatresults in a nutrient rich soil.

l Improves drainage in heavy soil

l Increases water holding capacity of sandy soils

l Increases soil life

l Increases soil structure and aeration

l Stabilises the soil temperature

l Makes a great potting mix, fertiliseror lawn top dressing

All of this leads to healthy, happy andresilient plants!

WhAt Is CoMpOsT?

WhY uSe cOmPoStiN tHe gArDeN?

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n4 Kitchen food scraps, teabags, coffee grinds, eggshells, citrus

n4 Newspaper, egg cartonsand tissues

n4 Lawn clippings

n4 Garden prunings

n4 Dust, lint and hair

n7 Meat

n7 Cat or dog poo

n7 Weeds with seeds, fruit, bulbs or runnersFor more info go toweedsbluemountains.org.au/seeds

n7 Diseased plant and soil

n7 Bulk amount of a singleingredient

WhAt CaN BeComPoStEd?

WhAt CaN’T BeComPoStEd?

NoTe oN cItRuS aNd oNiOnWhilst worms are not fond of citrusand onion, there are other compostcritters who will digest them. Youcan help by chopping it into smallerpieces for speedy decay.

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ALIVENESSCompost is full of life –microbes do most of thework with some help fromother insects and worms.You can use your sensesto tell if it’s alive, whatbugs can you see, whatdoes it smell like, does itfeel warm and moist?

AERATIONThe insects, worms andmicrobes all need air tolive but as ingredientsbreak down, it can alldrop, pushing air out andbecoming anaerobic.Turning it over brings airback into the system.

DIVERSITYThe greater the diversityof ingredients, the greaterthe diversity of nutrientsbroken down andavailable for plant uptake.The variety in ingredientsand microorganismscontributes to a healthyactive system.

MOISTUREMoisture in the composthelps the breakdown ofingredients and isimportant to the livingorganisms inside. Whensqueezed, you should feelthe moisture coming outof it like a damp sponge.

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BaSiC CoMpOsTiNgPrInCiPlEs fOr EvErYoNe

A.D.A.M.


l Where possible choose a sunny spot that gets both winter and summer sun to helpspeed up the process

l Where possible, find a sunny spot close to yourback door to make it a quick and easy delivery offood scraps every couple of days

l Consider the drainage and place your bin uphill ornext to fruit trees and vegetable gardens

l An enclosed bin dug into the ground approx 15cmwill provide a barrier against foxes, rats and otherpests as opposed to an open bay or pile

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CoMpOsT BiN LoCaTiOn

InGrEdIeNt MiX…You need a good balance of ingredients going intothe compost. They are often grouped into ‘green’and ‘brown’ and you need both of them going ineach time you add to your compost bin.

Green ingredientsare usually fresh,moist and breakdown quickly

n4 Food scraps

n4 Coffeegrounds

n4 Fresh lawnclippings

n4 Fresh gardenprunings

n4 Manures

Brown ingredients areusually old, dry, andbreak down slowly

n4 Dry leaves

n4 Newspaper

n4 Old lawnclippings

n4 Old gardenprunings

n4 Bark/twigs

n4 Chippedbranches


CoLd CoMpOsTYoU cAn cOmPoStiN 10 mInUtEs!

InGrEdIeNtS:n4 Food scraps

n4 Newspaper or dry leaves or sawdust

n4 Occasional grass clippings or garden prunings

MeThOdS:l1 (At the start only) Start with a coarse bottom

layer, like woody twigs, for drainage andaeration and put in a spade full of good soil orfinished compost that will introduce themicrobes

l2 Every couple of days, add food scraps GREENand newspaper (torn in strips) or dry leaves orsawdust BROWN

l3 When you have them available, put in freshgrass clippings or garden prunings. GREENDon’t forget to add the layer of newspaper, dry leaves or sawdust BROWN

l4 Use a compost turner to move things aroundand get the air in there

l5 Compost will gradually form but it may take 6to 12 months to create a good amount ofcompost.* It’s ready when you can’t identifyany of the ingredients that went in and it has apleasant earthy smell

*For a large household, you may need a second bin whenthe first one is full and you are waiting for it to brew andbreak down.6


YoU wIlL nEeD eNoUgH iNgReDiEnTs tO cOmPlEtElY fIlL tHe bIn oR bAy uP iN oNe gO…

InGrEdIeNtS:

HoT CoMpOsT

n4 Food scraps

n4 Newspaper

n4 Manures (chook, cow etc.)

n4 Lawn clippings

n4 Gardentrimmings/leaves

n4 Dust and hair

n4 Bucket of finishedcompost or garden soil

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MeThOd:l1 Start with a coarse bottom layer, like woody

twigs, for drainage and aeration

l2 Add a layer of GREEN

l3 Add a layer of BROWN

l4 Alternate between GREEN and BROWNmaterials until it is full. (If you are using a bayor pile, ensure it is 1m x 1m x 1m in size)

l5 Finish with a BROWN layer

l6 In a bin, turn every couple of days with acompost spiral/turner or for a pile/bay turnwith a fork once a week

l7 Compost is ready in 3 to 6 months.* It’s readywhen you can’t identify any of the ingredientsthat went in and it has a pleasant earthy smell

*To continue to compost food scraps, you may need asecond bin or worm farm while waiting for it to brewand break down.


Visit to our website for informationabout waste services, resource

recovery and recycling…

www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au

Organic ‘waste’ is actually a valuable resource when used as ingredients for compost… thingssuch as garden clippings, food scraps and eventissues and newspaper.

Approximately 26% of the material in our red lidgarbage bins is food waste. That’s about 2kg eachweek and up to $1000 thrown away per year.

By recycling organic waste in a compost bin we can:

n4 Help to preserve our World Heritageenvironment

n4 Reduce waste going into the red bin

n4 Recycle nutrients and improve our gardens

n4 Increase the lifespan for Blaxland landfill

2017

WhY cOmPoSt yOuR oRgAnIcS?


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