Home composting

Home composting is a simple, cost-effective way to turn your garden and kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost for your plants. By composting at home, you reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal and create a natural soil improver that helps your garden thrive. Most garden waste, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, and even shredded paper can go into a compost bin. Avoid cooked food, meat, and dairy, as these can attract pests. These can all go in your food caddy which we collect every week free of charge.

With the right mix of "greens" (like grass cuttings and food scraps) and "browns" (like twigs and cardboard), you'll have healthy compost ready in a few months and it's completely free!

Benefits of composting at home

1. Reduce waste and save money

• composting diverts food and garden waste from your black bin saving vital space for non-recyclable items
• it's a free alternative to paid garden waste services, turning your waste into a valuable resource

2. Create free fertiliser

• compost is rich in nutrients and improves soil structure, moisture retention, and plant health
• use it in your garden beds, pots, or as mulch - no need to buy chemical fertilisers

3. Help the environment

• it supports biodiversity by improving soil health and feeding beneficial organisms

4. Easy to start

• you can compost using a bin, a pile, or even trench composting directly in your garden
• West Berkshire residents can buy compost bins from the Get Composting website

Recycle Now provide great tips and useful advice to get your compost bin started.
 

Join the movement

By composting at home, you're helping West Berkshire become greener and more self-sufficient. Whether you have a large garden or a small patio, there's a composting method that can work for you.

Let's turn waste into something wonderful, right in your own backyard.