WHY NOT TRY COMPOSTING THOSE LEAVES

A number of Oscott residents are still concerned about how to get rid of the access of leaves which have come together in their gardens. Composting is easier than you think and may be the easiest answer. leaves and a lot of other things (see below) can be composted.
A compost container is the best bet but
A bin is not strictly necessary - you can just build a heap and cover it over with some polythene or cardboard if you want to keep the cost to a minimum and most Oscott resident have fairly large gardens with enough space. For those with less space a bin may be the best bet.

Composting is an environmentally friendly way of getting rid of organic waste from your kitchen and garden, giving you a completely natural, peat free, compost to dig back into your garden. By composting your own food and garden waste at home you will be doing your bit to stop climate change as food/garden waste generates methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) when sent to landfill.

After 9 -12 months, depending on how much you put into your compost bin, you will have a rich, totally organic compost to put back onto your garden.

There are numerous compost bins on the market to suit all gardens and pockets. The standard 220 litre bins cost £16.98 and the 330 litre ones £19.98 (plus £5.49 delivery). They they are available via www.getcomposting.com or by phoning 0845 130 6090.
You can put into your compost bin:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings (potato peelings, apple cores, banana skins etc)
• Egg shells
• Tea bags
• Cut flowers
• Coffee grounds
• Sawdust from small animals' bedding (e.g: hamster, guinea pig)
• Shredded paper and card
• Inners from kitchen/toilet rolls
• Grass cuttings
• Plant and bush trimmings
• Weeds (although it is not recommended you put in weeds such as bindweed)
• Vacuum cleaner dust
• Leaves
• Twigs (not too large)
• Straw and hay
• Egg boxes
• Feathers, fur and hair
• Ash (so long as it is wood based)

Do not put in:

• Meat, fish or cooked food
• Animal faeces
• Cat litter
• Dairy products
• Soot and coal ash
• Diseased plants
• Large branches
• Glossy or coloured paper
• Anything made of plastic

It is a good idea to keep a balance of greens such as fruit and vegetable peels and browns such as small branches and leaves. If you find your compost is getting a bit too runny, put in shredded or torn up paper or card to bulk it out. Putting too many grass cuttings into a compost bin will produce a smelly, liquid mess!