Home composting options

If you don’t currently have a food and/or garden waste collection service, then your waste will be getting sent to landfill.  Some of this organic material can be composted at home and from this you will get free fertiliser for your garden and plant pots.  Zero Waste Scotland has produced guidance on how to home compost and this is available here.

Once your compost has turned into a crumbly, dark material, resembling thick, moist soil and gives off an earthy, fresh aroma, you know it’s ready to use. Lift the bin slightly or open the hatch at the bottom and scoop out the fresh compost with a garden fork, spade or trowel.

Creating your own wormery

Worm composting can turn kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost and liquid fertiliser called worm tea.  The worms can eat about half their body weight in food waste in one day. Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) has produced a guide for schools on how to build your own wormery, but this can be used by anyone and is available here.

The type of worms you should use are not the ordinary garden variety.  Instead, Tiger Worms or dendrobaena, which thrive in rotting organic waste.  You can order worms through the post including from the company Pictish Worms, based in the north-east of Scotland. A more additional information on setting up and running a wormery is available the urban worm website.