Composting

Composting your waste is a cheap, natural process that allows you to recycle your kitchen and garden waste into valuable food for your garden. It is a fun and easy way to cut back your waste by about a third and avoid it going into landfill. Use the compost you create to help your garden grow.

How to get started

The first thing you need to do is purchase a compost bin. The Greater Manchester Waste Partnership offers you the option to purchase a low-cost compost bin. To view options and further details visit Greater Manchester Get Composting website by using the link at the right-hand side of this web page.  Alternatively, phone 0844 571 4444. 

How to get composting

To make your own compost you will need to use a mix of 'green' and 'brown' organic material. If your compost is too wet you will need to add more brown material, if it's too dry you will need to add more green material.

See the checklist below for green and brown organic materials together with a list of items you should avoid adding to your compost bin.

Green organic materials that you can put in your compost bin.

• Bedding plants that are past their best.
• Coffee grounds and unbleached filter paper.
• Comfrey leaves.
• Fruit scraps.
• Grass.
• Nettles.
• Old flowers.
• Pond algae and seaweed (small amounts only).
• Rhubarb leaves.
• Tea bags.
• Vegetable peelings.
• Young annual weeds.

Brown organic materials that you can put in your compost bin.

• 100% natural fibre fabrics (cut up into small pieces eg cotton)
• Cardboard and shredded paper.
• Cereal boxes.
• Egg boxes.
• Feathers.
• Hamster and rabbit bedding.
• Hedge clippings.
• Small cardboard tubes (eg toilet or kitchen roll tubes).
• Stems.
• Straw and hay.
• Tree leaves.

List of items you cannot put in your compost bin.

• No meat or dairy products.
• No cooked food.
• No non-organic waste (eg metal cans, plastic bottles, glass jars, nappies, etc).

Advice on composting if you don't have a garden

If you don't have a garden you can still compost your kitchen waste by using a wormery or bokashi bucket. This will turn your leftovers into nourishing soil conditioner for your plant pots. Use the links on the right-hand side of this page for more information. 

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