Composting Solutions
Problem |
Cause |
Solution |
| Compost does not heat up and the waste does not break down | Composting takes time |
Be patient, it will take around 18 months to produce compost in Shetland. Check the bottom of the bin, although it may not look like much is happening in the top of your bin you may have produced compost at the bottom. |
| Too much woody material | Mix in more 'green' wastes such as grass cuttings or vegetable waste | |
| Too dry | Mix in more 'green', soft, wet materials such as grass cuttings or vegetable matter, or add water to the bin taking care not to make it too wet. | |
| Feedstock used is in too large pieces | Shred large woody materials and return to the bin | |
| Weather is very cold or wet | Don't worry, your compost bin will naturally slow down in the colder winter months. To give it a boost you can mix in commercial compost activator or add animal manure. You could also protect the bin from wind and add extra insulation |
|
| Compost tends to dry out | Lid of bin left open |
Keep lid of bin closed except when adding feedstock |
| Original mixture too dry | Mix in more 'green' material including grass cuttings | |
| Compost is too wet | Original mixture is too wet e.g. all grass |
Mix in more 'brown' materials such as shredded tree trimmings and scrunched up card |
| Rain is entering the bin | Keep the lid closed except when adding more feedstock | |
| Compost smells bad-offensive, rotten odour | Original mixture is too compacted - not enough air is reaching compost |
Remove compost from bin, loosen with fork and refill. Add items like scrunched up card and paper to create air pockets to stop this happening again |
| Compost is too wet or contains too much 'green' material- not enough air is reaching compost | Mix in 'brown' material such as shredded tree trimmings and scrunched up cardboard to create air pockets. | |
| Compost produces a strong smell of ammonia | Too much green matter, e.g. grass cuttings | Mix in 'brown' material such as shredded tree trimmings, cardboard and paper. |
| Compost cools down but composting is obviously not finished | Compost has become too dry and composting has stopped | Mix in water so that the compost is moist but not wet |
| Large number of flies in and around the bin or signs of vermin activity | Presence of fish or meat waste in the compost | Do not use fish or meat waste in the feedstock. Keep kitchen vegetable material only |