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 |  | Starting a Composting SchemeWhy Compost MattersCurrently about 30% of household waste is made up of organic material (e.g. vegetable peelings, garden waste etc.). Most of this ends up in landfill sites where it rots down under anaerobic conditions (without air) which leads to the production of leachate, an unpleasant toxic liquid, and methane gas. Methane gas is explosive (in 1986 a house at Loscoe in Derbyshire was completely destroyed in a methane gas explosion. The gas had migrated from the nearby landfill site. Also, methane is a powerful 'greenhouse gas' which is about 20 times more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.Composting is a far more environmentally friendly way to deal with green waste. In a compost heap, the waste rots down under aerobic conditions (with air), which results in the production of a dark, earthy crumbly material which is excellent for adding to houseplants or enriching garden soil. But composting is not just for gardeners. Kitchen waste can easily be turned into compost by using a compost bin. What is Compost?Compostable waste breaks down because of the living organisms present within the material. This happens with the aid of tiny micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. In the compost heap the organisms first start to feed on the softer material such as grass cuttings. As the organisms increase in number so does the rate of decomposition. This results in excessive heat being produced; temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius have been recorded. This temperature kills most weeds, seeds and disused material. As the softer bits of material are all used up, the rate of process begins to slow down and the heap begins to cool. At this stage garden creatures such as worms and beetles join the heap and help digest more material. By the end of the process, the majority of the waste has been broken down and you are left with the rich, healthy fertilizer and soil conditioner for the garden.What can be composted ?Almost all organic matter can be composted. Tough material such as thick prunings will compost but it may take years. The best material to compost is material with a small surface area. For example, material which has been shredded is an excellent material for making compost.
Where do you store compost?The compost bin or heap should have an open base and be placed directly onto the ground soil (rather than concrete) to help drainage and to allow worms and insects to help with the decomposition. It should be in a position which receives direct sunlight for at least part of the day.The site also needs wheelbarrow access and an adjacent area to turn the compost. How do you make compost?To make the perfect compost using a compost bin, a few simple steps should be followed:Step 1 - Gather enough material to fill your compost container in one go. Use grass cuttings, weeds and even manure. Make sure there is a mixture of soft and tougher materials. Step 2 - Lay the items on soil or grass and chop up using shears or a sharp spade. Step 3 - Mix the ingredients together as much as possible and start filling the container, watering as you go. Step 4 - After a few days the heap should be warm to the touch. A week or two later, once the heap has cooled, its time to mix the ingredients again. Add water is the heap is dry, or dry material if too soggy. Step 5 - The heap may well heat up again, so repeat STEP 4 again. Once the heap no longer heats up, leave it undisturbed to finish composting. When the compost is dark brown and has an earthy smell the composting process is complete, but it is best if left for a month of two to mature before use. It is a common misunderstanding that compost piles must be hot to be successful. This just isn't true! If you have good aeration and moisture, and the proper ingredient mix, the pile will decompose at temperatures as low as 10 � C. The compost pile may go dormant in the Winter. No problem - it'll start back up again when the Springtime comes. How do you use Compost?Once the compost is ready for use, it is important to know when and where to use it. Compost should be applied in the Spring and Summer. It is either dug into the top 15 - 20 cm of soil or applied as a surface mulch. As a rough guide use one wheelbarrow full of compost per 5 m2 of ground.Encouraging More Composting - Ideas for getting started1. Arrange a simple display on composting in the place where your group meets. Include information about:
3. Consider establishing a Community Composting scheme. Such schemes are likely to be more suitable for groups such as allotment associations. More details on Community Composting can be found below. Community CompostingWhat is Community Composting?Where a group of people in a local community will pool materials to recycle larger amounts of waste and make larger amounts of compost.What are the benefits of Community Composting?Environmental:
Social:
Economic:
Setting up a Community Composting SchemeEstablish your motivations for setting up the project - this will influence the design of the project. Recycling? Food Growing? Generating income? Training? Involving people with special needs? etc.Establish your group, either formally or informally. Get advice and support from the Community Composting Network and your Local Agenda 21 or Recycling Officer (see below for contact details). What do you wish to recycle? Garden materials for chipping/ shredding? Soft garden materials? Kitchen materials? Farm materials? Commercial materials - shops, breweries. Leaves? This will influence your method for making compost - open bins or small windows? Learn how to make compost. How are you going to collect your materials for composting? Decide on area to be covered. Publicise your project with leaflets (with details of how waste will be collected and what can be composted) and knocking on doors. Bring systems - receiving area, access. Collect systems - kitchen bins? Trailers/ Wheelie bins? Days of week and times? Education: promote home composting and composting in schools? Funding: Are you going to rely on volunteer time/ reused materials or apply for grants (e.g. CDENT Community Waste Fund Tel: 0191 383 0055 for details) Licensing: Contact the Environment Agency to discuss a possible exemption from a Waste Management Licence (Tel: 0191 203 4000) Other issues to consider:
Community Composting Network (CCN)The CCN promotes community composting projects across the UK. It provides advice, support and encouragement to community composting projects, organises talks and demonstrations, and distributes a newsletter to its members.The CCN also distributes 'Mucking-In' - the Community Composting Pack, which is published by the Wildlife Trusts. To order a copy of 'Mucking - In' (�5.85 inc. p&p), or to find out more about composting contact: The Community Composting Network Website: http://www.othas.org.uk/ccn/index.html District CouncilsMost of the district councils in County Durham have composting bins available at a discount price (usually between �5 - �15). Some councils also have useful equipment such as shredders for hire. To find out what composting support is available in your area, contact your local district council and ask to speak to the person who deals with composting and recycling:
Durham County Council, in partnership with the district and borough councils, is encouraging local County Durham residents to compost their kitchen and garden waste. All residents in County Durham are being given the opportunity to try out a home composter absolutely free for 60 days. The 'Try before you buy' initiative will enable people to do their bit for the environment and help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. At the end of the trial, bins can be bought at a significantly reduced price. Tel: 0870 844 3021 for details. CDENT Community Waste FundThe County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT) operates a 'Community Waste Fund' specifically to support community-based schemes which encourage composting and recycling. Grants of up to �2500 are available for community groups in County Durham, Darlington and Sunderland. Match funding is not essential. For more information and an application form contact: The County Durham Foundation Tel: 0191 383 0055Sharing ResourcesSharing Resources is a UK wide project to provide free expert advice to community groups on composting and recycling projects. The project is a joint initiative funded by the National Lottery Charity Board supported by the Community Recycling Network and Waste Watch. Detailed advice can be offered to both existing and new commmunity composting/ recycling projects.Contact:Sharing Resources The CREATE Centre Smeaton Road Hotwells Bristol BS1 6XN Tel: 0117 907 4088 Local Case StudiesThere are several community composting schemes operating in Newcastle. In Arthur's Hill and Summerhill Square Newcastle City Council have helped to set up schemes based on the New Zealand 3 bin system. Materials for composting consist mainly of members kitchen and garden waste. Arthur's Hill also accepts waste fruit and vegetables from a local greengrocer.Three Allotment Associations (Oxnam Gardens, Jesmond Vale and Longstone Square) have taken composting to heart and have bulk-purchased compost bins for members use on their individual plots. Two other allotment sites (Iris Brickfield and Moorside) have had large New Zealand type bins constructed by the composting team for community composting use by their members. For more information about these schemes, contact Steve Tinling at: Newcastle City Council | | 
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