Your garden will love you
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© Australian Museum
Composting can cut your waste by 56%
Build a composting station
You can buy a composter or make one yourself using chicken wire, wood or concrete blocks. Ensure you have a lid to keep rainwater and pests out. Choose a site in your backyard in a sunny spot with good drainage.
What to compost
Start collecting compost. You will need a mixture of different materials that are either rich in nitrogen or rich in carbon.
| Fresh, green, nitrogen-rich organics: | Dry, brown, carbon-rich organics: |
|---|---|
| fruit and veg peelings/scraps | tea bags |
| pasta | coffee grounds |
| stale bread | eggshells |
| dry leaves | straw/hay |
| wood chips/sawdust | napkins |
| dryer lint | vacuum cleanings |
Keep a bucket in the kitchen to collect food scraps.
ADAM makes great compost
To make great compost, just follow the ADAM principle:
Aliveness – the more micro creatures the better! A compost heap contains micro organisms that act as natural decomposers.
Diversity – add a variety of materials to your compost. Food scraps, grass clippings, newspaper, straw, seaweed, dust, etc.
Aeration – your compost needs air to stay alive. Turn the heap each week with a garden fork to keep your compost fresh.
Moisture – a dry compost heap slows decomposition down. Your compost should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
Reap the benefits
Your compost should be ready to use in about 3-4 months. You can use your compost for potted plants, as mulch around outdoor plants and as a top dressing for your lawn. It will strengthen your plants’ immune systems and keep them healthy and vibrant.
Live in an apartment or don’t have a backyard? Start a worm farm instead. Worms can turn your organic waste into a rich fertiliser and can be kept outside, inside, on the balcony or in the garage.
