Please be advised that there are intermittent IT issues at the Registration Offices at Woodlands. As a result, appointments may be delayed today. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Our team is working to rectify the issue as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Composting
Home composting is an inexpensive, eco-friendly process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a nutrient-rich food for your garden. Composting greatly reduces the amount of kitchen and garden waste that we collect and so helps save money for other vital areas of our work.
Order a compost bin
Residents can buy composting bins for as little as 拢25.00 (+拢6.99 delivery) from .
Or call Get Composting on 0844 571 4444.
We do not collect compost bins as part of our waste collection service.
How to make compost
For composting to work properly, the waste material in your bin needs both air and moisture. Achieving the perfect balance of air and moisture depends on getting the right mix of waste material.
There are two types of waste that can be used for composting - green waste and brown waste.
Green waste
Green waste consists of items that are quick to rot and provide important nitrogen and moisture. This includes:
- tea bags
- grass cuttings
- vegetable peelings
- salad leaves
- fruit scraps
- old flowers
- coffee grounds and filter papers
- rhubarb leaves
- young annual weeds
Brown waste
Brown waste consists of materials that are slower to rot. It provides carbon and fibre and its bulk allows air pockets to form in the compost bin. Brown waste includes:
- cardboard
- egg boxes
- scrunched-up paper
- fallen leaves
- sawdust
- twigs and bark
How to fill your compost bin
Mixing the material as you fill your compost bin will create air pockets and help keep your compost healthy. It鈥檚 important to keep your green waste and brown waste properly balanced. If your compost is wet and smelly, add more brown waste; if your compost is too dry and isn鈥檛 rotting, add some green waste.
Learn more about composting
You can learn more about composting from the comfort of your own home with the East London Waste Authority鈥檚 free online course.
Just enter this password to get started: ELWACompost