Waste and Recycling Services

A Practical Guide to Home Composting

What is compost?

Compost is nature’s own plant and soil food formed by the natural process of decomposition. Turn your food scraps and garden waste into a food for your plants!

Why compost?

Every healthy garden needs compost. Around 1,000,000 cubic metres of waste and garden organics is generated within the south Coast region every year. This amount of waste would fill the Sydney Opera House 3 times!

What do I need to get started?

Gloves and mask
At least two 1m x 1m areas
Pitch fork and shovel

How to make compost

Keep food scraps, tree prunings and grass clippings separate
Chip garden prunings with your lawn mower to a particle size of <5cm
Layer garden prunings, grass clippings and food scraps in even quantities to 1m high
Saturate each layer of garden prunings with water
When a pile reaches 1m high start using the second compost area
Compost is ready in 12 weeks after completing the final layer

Where to use compost

Potting mix for raising seed
Fertiliser for container plants, ornamental shrubs or trees
Top dressing for lawns
Soil for your vegetable garden

Composting Tips

if compost smells – aerate by turning
if compost is too wet – add dry leaves or twigs.
if composting is too slow

Not enough nutrients – add a small amount of nitrogen-based material ie. blood and bone

Not enough air – turn the heap more often

Not enough water – moisten the heap

Not heating up – cover the heap with insulation material (ie. hessian or carpet) – check particles are not too coarse or too dry – check correct ratio of food scraps, lawn clippings and mulched twigs (1:1:1)
if maggots are present - Meat, seafood, fats or faeces in the heap – remove the cause, cover maggots with lime, add soil to the top and turn the heap the next day.
if mice and rats are present
excess bread in the heap – put fine wire mesh underneath the heap and turn regularly
heap is too dry – moisten the heap

Always check with your local nursery if you are not sure.

For more information pick up a copy of the Easy Composting Guide from Bega Valley Shire Council

Waste Hotline 1300 369 842
For more information about Council's waste and recycling collection services call the Hotline.