For more information contact Common Cause Co-operative Ltd at:
The Green Room,
20 North Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2PE
Company House Registration No. 2900270 |
Frequently asked questions
1. Where can I get a compost bin?
ESCC offer a range of compost bins at subsidised
prices. For details of all these bins visit the ESCC
website.
2. What can I put in my compost bin?
This
depends on what sort of bin you have. All bins will
take raw kitchen waste such as tea bags, fruit cores
and peel, vegetable scraps and coffee grinds. You
should also put plenty of paper and card in your
bin. Loo roll tubes, egg boxes, tissues, kitchen
packaging such as tea bag or cereal boxes and crumpled
up junk mail are all great, but don’t
put in too much newspaper. This will give you a good
mixture of “green” and “brown” materials
which is the key to making compost. Small animal bedding
can also go in.
Some bins can take your garden waste along with your
kitchen waste, and some will even take cat and dog waste.
good mix raw compost
Finished Compost
3. Can I compost cooked food waste?
Yes! But you need a bin with an integrated base,
or a sheet of welded wire mesh under a bin that
is open to the soil.
4. My compost
is wet and smelly – what’s wrong?
Probably you are not incorporating enough “browns” along
with your “greens”.
5. What can I do with grass cuttings?
Grass cuttings
can be successfully composted. They are very “green” (high
in water and nitrogen) and will clog together into a slimy mess if they
are not well mixed in with “brown” (woody or dry) material.
Add lots of paper – shredded paper is ideal – cardboard,
leaves or chunkier bits of garden waste to your bin as
you add your grass cuttings.
6. What about autumn leaves?
A small
amount of leaves can be added to your compost bin,
but if you have large amounts – several bin bags full – it is better
to compost them separately. Leaves tend to take a long time to break
down, but they form very rich compost when they do. Either make a simple “leaf-mould” container
with 4 posts in the ground surrounded by chicken wire,
or gather your leaves into black sacks, loosely tie the top, make a
few fork holes in the bottom and then leave them out of the way for
a couple of years.
7. How can I stop rodents visiting my Compost
bin?
Mice and rats will not automatically be attracted to compost,
but if they are in the area, they may visit your heap. There are a number
of ways in which you can discourage them.
a. Buy a Compost bin with an integral
base
b. Use weldmesh under your bin.
c. Put your bin in a place that you
visit regularly. Rats are actually shy creatures.
d. Plant
aromatic plants such as lavender around your heap.
For information, advice or a home visit East Sussex Website
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