Introduction
Composting garden and food waste turns ‘waste’ into a valuable asset that:
- Saves money – good compost can make excellent soil conditioner; saving time, money and effort.
- Helps your environment – the more you compost, the less you need to recycle or waste.
- Improves your garden or allotment – compost puts nutrition back into the soil.
Where to get a compost bin
Compost bins can be bought in garden centres, DIY shops and online. Somerset Council is no longer able to provide subsidised compost bins via Get Composting, however they continue to provide many options for at home composting.
Through their website, you can also buy kitchen composters, wormeries, composting accessories and water butts. Compost converters are made from recycled plastic, UV-stabilised to prevent degradation, require no assembly, and are guaranteed for seven years. Optional base plate available. Delivery can take up to 28 days.
You may even find great bargains for pre-loved compost bins on Freegle, Freecycle, or online sale sites, like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace or similar.
Advice and guidance on composting
For practical advice on setting up and using compost bins, as well as useful answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Recycle Now composting pages or the Royal Horticultural Society.
A compost bin works well with a mixture of organic materials, balancing green (nitrogen-rich) with brown (carbon-rich) and using garden waste, suitable foods – from veg peelings to apple cores, coffee grounds to tea leaves – and other materials, from herbivore animal manure to wood ash, torn card to wool.
Check to see if you are getting the right mix for your compost.
No compost bin? You can compost in situ to add nutrients directly back into your soil with compost trenches or pits.
More advice
Royal Horticultural Society video.
RHS compost advice
Composting for kids with Peppa Pig – inspire younger gardeners
Science Spark’s home-made wormery, so your children can watch the worms in action.