You may be surprised at how much of your waste can be composted at home. Fruit and vegetable peelings, crushed eggshells, paper and card and garden waste are all compostable.

The YNYWP are able to offer help and assistance with composting, and have a team of enthusiastic and fully trained volunteers called the Rotters. Find out more about the work of the Rotters.  You may also find the Trialling composters blog useful if you are considering one of the more unusual composting systems.

Why should we compost at home? 

More than 60% of the contents of the average rubbish bin is biodegradable and over a third can be easily composted at home. This includes fruit and vegetable peelings, garden waste, tea bags, coffee grounds, cardboard and paper.

If not composted at home, biodegradable waste is sent to landfill, where it rots down producing the powerful greenhouse gas, methane. Methane is 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. In the UK, 20% of methane production comes from landfill.  Reducing biodegradable waste going to landfill will reduce the amount of methane produced, thus helping to reduce damage to the environment.

Also, as you are composting your own waste at home it is not being transported to landfill, saving additional emissions associated with the transport of waste.

How to purchase a compost bin

The York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership are part of the national framework to supply all North Yorkshire residents with low cost compost bins.

There are two bin sizes:

• The 220 litre compost bin costs £18 including delivery.
• The 330 litre compost bin costs £20 including delivery.

These prices include delivery of £5.49 per order.  You can also 'buy one, get one half price' when you buy two of the same bin. For more information and to purchase a compost bin please visit www.getcomposting.com.

Compost bins from a garden centre can cost £40 so you will save around 50% by buying through this subsidised scheme.

Both the 220 litre and 330 litre compost bins are called Compost Converters. The units are made from 100% recycled plastic with windproof secure push-fit lid and removable side hatch. The bins are guaranteed for 15 years.

There are other methods of composting, see the Alternative composting systems page for more information.  Products such as caddies, wormeries, hot bins and kitchen composters can also be purchased at www.getcomposting.com or other retailers.

How to compost at home

Getting free, good quality compost from your bin is easy. You just need to put the right combination of ingredients in, almost like a recipe. Compost bins need a 50:50 mix of "green" and "brown" waste.

Greens are nitrogen rich and quick to rot. They provide your compost with moisture.

Browns are carbon rich and are slower to rot. They provide fibre and create air pockets in the mixture.

To make sure you introduce air when adding materials to the mix, scrunch up cardboard and paper and add in twiggy materials from your garden. Cardboard egg boxes are an easy way to add air to your bin. This will reduce the need for regular turning.

Placing your compost bin in direct or partial sunlight will help maintain higher temperatures inside and can speed up the composting process.

Insulating the compost bin in winter with materials such as carpet or bubble wrap can help the composting process continue to work throughout the colder months.

Want to find out more about making compost - follow the link to watch Philippa Forrester making compost.

Using your compost

After 9-12 months (in optimum conditions) you will have finished compost.

You can use your compost...

• To enrich your borders by spreading a 5cm layer of compost over the existing soil, or digging the compost into the soil before planting.
• On flowerbeds by digging a 10cm layer of compost into the soil before planting.
• As mulch (compost which is not fully broken down) by adding a layer of about 5cm over your flowerbeds.
• Around trees by spreading a 5-10cm layer around the roots (not too close to the base of the tree).
• To replenish pots by removing the top layer of existing soil and replacing with freshly made compost.
• To feed your lawn by mixing with sand and spreading a thin layer of about 2.5cm over the lawn.
• To grow healthy herbs and vegetables by simply adding compost around the base of the plants.