Compost can be set up in a bin or an enclosed heap. You can buy bins at most hardware stores.

How to compost

Put your compost somewhere that’s well-drained and easy to access.

You can add these things to your compost, and it’s good to have a mix of all of them:

• Food and veggie scraps
• Coffee grounds and tea leaves
• Grass clippings, leaves and twigs from your yard
• Newspaper or shredded paper.

Do not put these things in your compost:

• Meat, fish and dairy
• Oil, fat or grease
• Dog or cat poo.

Keep your compost slightly damp, and turn it regularly so it gets fresh air. Layer food scraps with grass or garden clippings to keep it well balanced.

Compost can get warm as organic waste breaks down. If you’ve got an open compost heap, cover it in hessian – especially in winter – to keep it warm.

If you see earthworms in your compost, that’s a good sign! They can help break things down more quickly to make great fertiliser for your garden.

Using your compost

It can take up to 10-12 weeks for compost to break down so you can use it. Add finished compost to garden beds, or as topsoil on lawns. You can also use it as potting mix, either on its own or mixed with dirt from your garden.