Advice to help you get composting

Mulch ado about rotting! Leeds residents encouraged to give composting a go for International Compost Week.

Leeds City Council is inviting residents to come and learn about the many benefits of composting from an expert, as they prepare to tour garden centres across Leeds in celebration of International Compost Week (6—12 May 2018).

Every garden should have a compost bin

Households are being encouraged to turn over a new leaf and give composting a go to reap the financial and environmental rewards.

Whether you’re green fingered or brown thumbed, composting is an easy, free and sustainable way of making organic fertiliser that you can use to help your garden or houseplants flourish and grow.

Throughout the week, the council’s Waste Recycling Advisors will have stalls at the following locations between 10am and 2pm:

  • Tuesday 8 May  The Arium, LS14 3FB
  • Wednesday 9 May  Langlands Garden Centre, LS15 4NF
  • Thursday 10 May  The Arium, LS14 3FB
  • Friday 11 May High  Trees Garden & Leisure, LS18 5HZ

There will be no need to walk on egg shells around the council’s knowledgeable experts—as they’ll be able to answer any question you have about getting started with (or better at) composting. Plus, you’ll be able to enter a cracking competition to win one of two full-size composters or an indoor bokashi bin.

Experts have calculated that the average household in Leeds could reduce their non-recycled waste by a whopping 150kg a year.

You won’t have to dig deep to start composting either; Leeds residents can benefit from special discounts on compost bins through Leeds City Council.

Whether you’re interested in indoor or outdoor composting, for more information about the variety of composting bins available residents are encouraged to visit www.leeds.getcomposting.com

Do compost:

  • Fruit and vegetable peelings
  • Tea bags and coffee grounds
  • Egg shells
  • grass clippings
  • annual weeds
  • shredded paper
  • small amounts of cardboard (eg loo roll centres)

Don’t compost:

  • Cooked food waste (it may attract rats)
  • Woody garden waste
  • Plastic wrappers
  • Dog poo