Most items from a domestic garden can be composted with a little care and time. You can speed up the process by shredding or chopping thick, woody stems, as this helps the bacteria to reach the soft digestible cellulose behind the protective bark. The length of time depends on the size of the pieces and whether the wood pulp has been de-lignified in the pulping process.
|
Garden Waste |
Will It Decay |
Cold |
Hot |
HOTBIN Decay Rate |
Comments |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Fast |
We do not recommend adding these into the HOTBIN |
|
|
Alfalfa |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
Can be hard to break down - we recommend adding dried and roughly shredded autumn leaves in small handfuls each week |
|
|
Bird Feathers |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
|
|
Bone Meal/ Blood Meal |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Fast |
These can help speed up composting |
|
Branches |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Very slow |
The larger the branches, the slower they are to compost. You really should shred or chip |
|
Coir - Coconut Husk Fibre |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Very slow |
Takes a long time, but the fibres do mix in |
|
Conkers |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Very Slow |
Protective shell will take longer to compost. Chopping or smashing them up will help to compost more efficiently |
|
Couch Grass |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
Should only be added once the HOTBIN has reached 60°c to ensure that all of it is composted effectively |
|
Diseased Plants |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
High temperatures kill disease virus/bacteria |
|
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
|
Fertiliser - Ammonium Sulphate |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Fast |
Limited value & high cost |
|
Flowers - Stems, Dead Heads, Roots |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
Grass is a large volume waste. It can be tricky to compost quickly in a cold compost bin. We recommend drying the grass out slightly to prevent excess water from entering the HOTBIN |
|
|
Yes/No |
Yes |
No |
Medium |
Adding these will only block airflow through the HOTBIN. Only the grass composts |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
Domestic weed killers are biodegradable - please check individual product instructions |
|
|
Green Leaves |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
Shred waxy leaves |
|
Ground Cover - Nettles |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
Hay |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
Herbicides |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
Domestic herbicides are biodegradable - please check individual product instructions |
|
Hydrogels - SAP, PAM |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Slow |
Can also be added to soil |
|
Yes |
Not Advised |
Not Advised |
Medium |
|
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
Ensure these are well shredded or chopped and add in small amounts rather than a single layer |
|
|
Lime - Calcium Carbonate |
No |
Not Advised |
Not Advised |
- |
Lime is not biodegradable. It also affects the pH levels and can stop the composting action so is best left out |
|
Moss |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
Takes ages - it is best added in small amounts each week |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
Acts as a fantastic kick starter! But do not add too much |
|
|
Other Non-Native Weeds |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
Perlite |
No |
Not Advised |
Not Advised |
- |
|
|
Pesticides |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
Domestic pesticides are biodegradable - please check individual product instructions |
|
Pine Cones and Pine Needles |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
|
|
Plants With Fungus On |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
High temperatures should kill the fungi |
|
Prunings |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
Shred or chop where possible |
|
Ragwort |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
Should only be added once the HOTBIN has reached 60°c |
|
Rock /Volcanic Dust |
No |
Not Advised |
Not Advised |
- |
We question the reason for adding small rock particles to compost |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
|
Seaweed |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
Ensure the salt is rinsed off. Seaweed is thought to encourage other materials to break down more quickly |
|
Soil |
No |
Not Advised |
Not Advised |
- |
It seems counter-intuitive not to add soil however, try not to! Large sods and/or thick layers prevent aeration and could cause your HOTBIN to become anaerobic. You only need to use a small handful to inoculate a new heap |
|
Straw |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Medium |
|
|
Twigs & Brambles |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
|
|
Vermiculite |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
Can add to soil |
|
Weeds - Convolvulus, Dandelion, Bindweed, Buttercup & Horse Tail |
Yes |
Not Advised |
Yes |
Medium |
Safer to compost in a hot composting bin - as the seeds are likely to survive cold composting |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Slow |
Shred or chop these before adding. Do not add in thick layer and mix in well |