Compost Week is here, and we wanted to find what composting means to the team at Diversity. We asked everyone in the company if they composted; 4 said yes and the rest said no but they’d like to learn more.
This created a lot of discussion around what you can and can’t compost, what compost is used for and why they like to do it. So, we compiled the feedback to help others learn more about this environmentally friendly practice and it also led us to consider how we can individually contribute to Compost Week.
What you can and shouldn’t put in your compost
One of our composters learnt that compost can be more than just garden waste – you can also add your fruit and vegetable scraps, used teabags, crushed eggshells, paper and cardboard.
However, you can’t put just any old waste in a compost. You don’t want to include meat, fish or bones, dairy, fats, seeds, wood that has been treated or painted, pet waste, glossy paper or stickers on fruits.
Composting offers multiple benefits
While composting is environmentally friendly, it is also great for improving your garden’s soil quality. So, if you’re a keen, green-fingered gardener, then you’ll want to set up a compost because the product will help you to grow bigger and stronger plants.
Compost naturally improves biodiversity too! Microorganisms as well as worms, woodlice and other critters feed on compost waste and break down the scraps which entices birds, hedgehogs and other wildlife to gardens because they forage for these invertebrates and insects. Once broken down, we then end up with mulch which can be added to plant beds to improve the soil nutrients.
Composting helps cut down on the amount of food waste in landfills. When food waste goes to landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By reducing food waste in landfills, we protect the environment, save resources and support a circular economy.
Important tips to remember when composting
- Make sure that you have both green and brown waste
Green waste such as grass cuttings, fallen leaves and peelings (25-50%)
Brown waste such as woody garden waste, paper and cardboard (50-75%) - Break down materials into smaller pieces to speed up the process
Shred papers and cardboard, chop up cuttings for example - Turn your compost to aerate it
Add air to the mix and make sure it’s not too wet, as a mix that’s too moist often becomes compacted which will take longer to decompose - Garden compost takes time to reach maturity
It can take six months to two years to create a quality compost that’s ready to nurture your garden soil