How To Make The Perfect Compost Heap

Whether you’ve been composting for years and just want to perfect your compost heap, or you’ve just started out and want to learn the best tips for composting, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s blog, we’re going to be taking a look at the best compost hacks for making the best compost heap in 2023. Here at Solutions 4 Plastic, we’re very passionate about composting, and to celebrate our new compostable caddy bin liners release, we wanted to delve into the world of composting a bit deeper.

Size matters!

Let’s start by talking about size. There are many shapes and sizes of compost bins available, so find one that suits your garden and space requirements. If you’re only composting a small amount of waste per week, a smaller compost bin will be fine for you, whereas if you’re a large family, composting lots of waste per week, a bigger one may be needed of course. For allotments, farmers and businesses, a large wooden compost ‘bay’ may be a good option. There are also many styles and colours of compost bins, so get creative, show your flair and present your garden in your own way!

Placement

To get the most out of your compost bin, it should be placed in the right spot. According to professional composters, The Eden Project; “It’s best to site it on a level, well-drained spot, which will ensure that any excess water drains away easily. This also helps worms to get in and get on with the job of breaking down the content”. Your compost bin should be placed in a sheltered, shady spot, ideally directly on the soil, this is to help avoid extremes of temperature and moisture.

Timing

It’s all about timing! You can obviously set up a compost heap at any time, or season of the year, but for maximum efficiency, you should start composting in Spring. According to studies, gardens produce lots of beneficial, suitable material from the Springtime onwards.

Green VS Brown

The two main types of composting material are GREEN and BROWN. These two types of composting material are best suited to compost systems, and are definitely something to focus on. Lets take a look at what can be considered in each one:

GREEN- leaves, grass cuttings, weeds, crops, fruit, veggies, and peelings. Green compost tends to be rich in nutrients.

BROWN- wood, cardboard, hedge trimmings, pruning, straw, and shredded paper. Brown compost tends to be rich in carbon.

In compost systems, you should try to aim for a good balance of both green and brown. According to many sources, the correct percentages are as follows: 25–50% green material, and 75–50% brown material. This isn’t essential, however we think it makes the PERFECT compost heap.

A little bit of help

Just because something can be chucked in the compost bin, it doesn’t mean you can literally throw it in and leave it there. Some compostable materials require some care beforehand, you should be shredding your paper, cutting down plants, stems and trimmings before composting them. This helps the materials break down much easier, and will make your compost bin much more efficient.

Mixing

Mixing your compost is absolutely essential for your compost bin. If the material inside is too wet or too compacted, then the composting process will be slower, because less air is available. In dryer seasons, mixing the compost allows you to assess the moisture levels. If the compost is too dry, adding small amounts of water is a good solution. If you’re wondering how to turn compost, you can either simply fork through the bin with a large tool, or even just emptying and refilling the compost bin can do the trick. You only need to turn/mix your compost a few times a year to keep it fresh and healthy, so don’t worry about it too much, unless you’re not getting the results you're aiming for.

Pesky creatures

Pests are very common in composting systems, inside and outside alike. There are a few ways you can prevent those pesky creatures from being attracted to your compost bins:

-If you’re using a small bin/caddy, you should 100% be using compostable caddy liners. Caddy liners can help prevent smells getting out, and therefore prevents pests from entering.

-Keep a lid on your bin, this will stop most pests and critters, but especially rats.

-Cover kitchen waste (foods) with garden waste (plants etc).

-Prevent dampness.

-Build compost piles away from bird feeders.

DON’TS

Never put the wrong things in your compost bin, this can be detrimental to your compost pile, and can also cause bad smells, and encourage pests. Here are some things you should NEVER put in your compost pile:

-animal/pet waste

-nappies

-plastics

-styrofoam

-treated wood

-treated plants

-oils and greases

-meats and fish (unless you have a digester)

-hard objects

-stickers

Some of these things you can compost in a kitchen compost caddy.

Readiness

Knowing when compost is ready to use can be tricky, but the way to know if it's fully ready, is to look out for the almost black, spongey, soil-like layer at the bottom of the bin. Using this compost can reduce the need for pesticides and chemicals in your plants. This compost is extra rich in nutrients, and will be perfect to use in your garden!

Indoor caddys

If you’re not an outdoor compost type of person, why not try a small kitchen caddy bin. These bins are suitable for households who want to reduce waste and improve their carbon footprint. We sell compostable caddy liners in our shop, check them out!

Well, we hope this blog brought you many ideas, tips and tricks on how to make the perfect compost pile! Let us know how you get on, and don’t forget to comment any extra tips you have that we missed. Happy composting!

-Solutions 4 Plastic Team.