How to make compost

Currently approximately 37% of Gisborne's waste going to landfill is green waste that could be composted. Not only does composting help minimise what gets thrown out with the rubbish, it also reduces the need for watering, helps you grow organically, and assists combat climate change.

Composting is a process which mimics nature by recycling organic material. As the organic material breaks down, it changes and becomes what is known as humus. During the process, soil micro-organisms, worms and insects convert the organics into a soil-like material which can then be used in the garden.

What you can compost

You can compost a mixture of 'greens' and 'browns'.   'Greens' are nitrogen rich wastes and include: kitchen food scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass and plant clippings, hair, fur, animal manure, blood and bone, seaweed, fish bones, chopped weeds (not noxious varieties).

'Browns' are high in carbon and other elements and includes: dried leaves, twigs, sawdust, wood shavings and wood ash (untreated), hay, peat, vacuum cleaner dust, shredded paper and newspaper, egg shells, crushed sea shells.

What you shouldn't put in your compost

Don't put these in your compost - meat, grease, fat, dairy products, cakes, bread, large bones, weeds that can propagate, walnut leaves.

How to make compost

Garden composting using heaps,containers or bins.

Start with a bottom layer of coarse twiggy material, this will provide drainage.  Compost needs to be a mix of organic materials containing both 'green' and 'brown' material. A simple way is to layer materials as they become available, but storing some materials, so green and brown materials can be alternated in layers of about 100mm.
If you do not have enough green material add some manure or blood and bone. Twiggy brown material may need to be compacted to reduce the heat loss - a good method is to jump on the pile.

How to look after your compost

• Chop or shred components well and turn frequently. (Note: your pile will compost without turning but it will take longer).
• Turn once the heap starts to cool down (keeping it hot destroys weeds and seeds) or it develops a bad odour.
• Cover the heap in heavy rain
• Keep moist. Don't let it dry out
• If at first it doesn't heat up, add more 'green' material, such as manure or blood and bone.
• If it becomes too wet, turn and add 'brown material'

When the compost is ready to use

Compost is ready to use when the majority of it looks like potting mix.
Any material that didn't compost can be removed and put back into the heap for further composting.  It can be forked into the garden or used as a mulch.