Home Composting 
Composting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of food waste generated from schools going to landfill as well as providing the surrounding grounds or a nature garden with a free source of fertiliser.
Implementing a compost scheme
All primary schools are entitled to 2 free compost bins and 5 kitchen caddies. If you would like to receive these fill in the order form and send it to the Home Composting Team.
Bokashi also supply kitchen compost bins, visit the Colchester Borough Council website for more information.
Once the school has received the bins and caddies, students should start to think about where to situate them. As kitchen caddies are designed to store food waste indoors it's a good idea to put them in kitchens, dining areas and staff rooms.
Compost bins should be situated outside on well-drained level soil. If the school has a nature garden it may be a good idea to situate them here.
To ensure all students know what to put in the caddies students should design an A4 information poster, which can be displayed next to it. Students should monitor the caddies to make sure they are being used correctly.
Method
Step 1
Place compost bin on level soil as this will allow moisture to drain away and let worms get inside and help with the composting process. Compost bins also like the heat from the sun so try to put them in a sunny spot.
Step 2
Like any recipe, your compost relies on the right ingredients to make it work.
Good ingredients include a balanced mixture of BROWN and GREEN materials.
GREENS
Vegetable peelings
Fruit waste
Teabags
Plant prunings
Grass cuttings
Greens are quick to rot and they provide important nitrogen and moisture. Other things you can compost include;
BROWNS
- Twigs Straw
- Cardboard egg boxes
- Scrunched up paper
- Fallen leaves.
Browns are slower to rot. They provide fibre and carbon and also allow important air pockets to form in the mixture. Crushed eggshells can be included to add useful minerals.
Step 3
- If your compost is too wet, add more Browns.
- If it’s too dry, add some Greens.
- Adding scrunched up bits of cardboard is a simple way to create air pockets that will help keep your compost healthy.
- After approximately 6-9 months your finished compost will be ready.
Step 4
Finished compost is a dark brown, almost black soil-like layer that you’ll find at the bottom of the bin. It has a spongy texture and is rich in nutrients.
The compost can be taken out of the bin by lifting it up or pulling it out of the hatch. It can then be used as a soil improver to help plants and trees grow.
