Compost bin?

Question

just got a compost bin.need some help,what can i put in it, and what should i not put in it. do i need anything to start the process off .thankyou

Answer 1

fruit, veg, carboard

anything that rots

Answer 2

organic material with a little dirt. Mix occaisionally with a spade and in no time you'll have some nice rich compost.

Answer 3

Do not put in grease, meat, dog/cat p**p

You need to read up on composting as this is too small an area to fully answer.  Generally plant material like grass clippings well mixed with dry material like dry leaves along with a bit of soil to add the microbes to break down the vegetation.  You can use herbivore manure.....grass eater's p**p like horses, sheep, cow.........but no meat eater's p**p.

You can add kitchen waste such as fruit and vegetable peelings, but avoid bread or any sugar containing products.

Material should be small in size so it breaks down faster.  I've even know people to whirl their kitchen trash in the blender with water before taking it out to the compost pile.  I won't do that....well, maybe for egg shells.  

You didn't say if it is an upright or tumbling type.  If upright, you have to turn the pile, that is completely mix the contents every so often to keep the composting going.  If you don't it may begin to smell and will surely be slow in making compost.  

There's plenty of info on the web......cruise around and see what you find. http://www.howtocompost.org/

Answer 4

throw the dog in it

Answer 5

Try and put it on soil to start with, if not, make sure that you put some soil in it to "Start it off."

In

uncooked fruit and vegetables,

Coffee grinds, tea bags/leaves

soft garden waste

Cardboard

Out

Cooked foods

Meat

Woody garden waste

Everything in moderation and try not to have layers (Think grass clippings here).  Mix it up a bit and if you find any spare worms in your garden, then chuck 'em in.

Depending on the type of compost bin, ie; if it's open on the top then get a piece of carpet to cover it off to act as a lid.  It'll let some water through, but will stop most of it.

If possible, get a second compost bin when the first is full then transfer compost from the first to the second (Thereby turning it over) and then start on the first.  This give the compost more time to decompose as well/

Answer 6

Do not put meat in it.

Answer 7

Like any recipe, your compost relies on the right ingredients to make it work. Good things you can compost include vegetable peelings, fruit waste, teabags, plant prunings and grass cuttings. These are considered “Greens.” Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture. Other things you can compost include cardboard egg boxes, scrunched up paper and fallen leaves. These are considered “Browns” and are slower to rot. They provide fibre and carbon and also allow important air pockets to form in the mixture. Crushed eggshells can be included to add useful minerals

Certain things should never be placed in your bin. No cooked vegetables, no meat, no dairy products, no diseased plants, and definitely no dog poo or cat litter, or baby’s nappies. Putting these in your bin can encourage unwanted pests and can also create odour. Also avoid composting perennial weeds (such as dandelions and thistle) or weeds with seed heads. Remember that plastics, glass and metals are not suitable for composting and should be recycled separately.