Contact Information

Forest of Dean District Council
Council Offices
High Street
Coleford
Glos
GL16 8HG

Tel: 01594 810000
council@fdean.gov.uk

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Home composting

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Compost binComposting your garden cuttings in a compost bin or heap is the best option for the environment and your garden.  You can also compost kitchen waste such as fruit and vegetable peelings as well as garden cuttings in your home compost bin or heap. 

Where can I purchase a compost bin?

Compost bins are widely available from garden centres and DIY stores.  However, Gloucestershire residents can benefit from subsidies granted by Gloucestershire County Council to purchase a bin.  Simply visit www.gcc.getcomposting.com/ to find out more or call the order line on 0844 571 4444.  In addition to traditional compost bins, the site also offers water butts, compost tumblers, wormeries and a wide range of accessories including kitchen waste caddies.

What sort of things can I put in my compost bin?

For your composter to work effectively, you need to feed it with a good mix of 'green' and 'brown' materials:

GREENSBROWNS
  • Grass cuttings
  • Tea bags
  • Vegetable & fruit peelings
  • Coffee grounds & filter paper
  • Weeds
     

 

 

 

  • Cardboard (i.e. egg & cereal boxes, kitchen roll tubes)
  • Egg shells
  • Straw & hay
  • Dry leaves, twigs & hedge clippings
  • Paper (scrunched up or shredded)
  • Natural fibres (i.e. cotton, wool)
  • Tissues, paper towels, napkins
  • Wood ash
  • Sawdust & wood chippings
  • Bedding from vegetarian pets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will take anything from 6 months to a year for your bin to produce useable compost which will be dark and crumbly in texture and resemble thick, moist soil. 

Conventional compost bins should not be used to compost cooked meat, fish or bones.

For more top tips about composting please click here.