Compost problems

We have a plastic compost bin, into which goes all our 'green' kitchen s****s, garden cuttings and clippings, along with a bit of soil. We started the bin over a year ago and the contents at the bottom are very wet, sloppy and rather smelly. They also don't appear to have broken down much at all. What do we need to do/add to improve matters?

 

PS: I don't know what 's****s' means!! I didn't actually type that...

 

The ***** came as a result of some very clever software on the Gardeners Corner Website. It does that to any words or in this case sequence of letters that might spell something a bit naughty. You might have got away with "skraps"

Back to your bin. It sounds like that you need to get a LOT more "brown" material into it. Things like leaves, woody cuttings and cardboard, (loo rolls,egg boxes, kitchen towel, torn up cardboard boxes).
You could also try a compost accelerator or better still some worms.

[ 09. March 2007, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: Dave W ]

 

Add to Dave's excellent advise, might be an idea to turn it - mixing it up. Trouble with the plastic bins is there is little aerate it - turning helps to do that.

 

Well mentioned Fran. I do it with the main heaps but let the little wriggly workers do it for me in the plastic bins. :D

 

Hi there everyone,
long time no see
I have the same composty problem as cobbybrook.
I've got my first council compost bin over half full with kitchen waste, eggboxes, shells, shredded paper etc etc. I've read the posts that advising layering the different materials. I've followed ALL the advice to the letter but nothing is happening. Its not even slimy or smelly it's just lying there staring back at me when I give it the daily rations!! Please advise me where I'm going wrong.
Linda

 

Sounds like its too dry - give it a soak, cover it and see what happens then. It needs water to rot down, that usually comes from the green matter - lawn clippings, veg peelings etc.

 

Errm Glasgow, heaps need heat, I recon yours is like a fridge. You need water and worms mate ! If your heap isn't hot enough or moist enough to start breaking down your "Skraps" you need an accelerant and/or worms. Some nice cut grass would be good too.

 

Thanks for quick reply, peeps,
You are all so clever, I will give it a good soak
as advised. You are right banana man it's bitterly cold outside just now. I have tried to site it on a sunny area of the garden, maybe I will have to knit a "dalek jacket" for my wee pal
I've bought a box of garotta and will add that as per instructions.
Re the worms, the bin is sited on bare soil will the worms find their way in or will I have to gather them up in a bucket and (very gently) fire them right in .
Best springlike wishes to all,
Linda

 

The worms should find their way in on their own -though if you know someone with a good heap - maybe they'll let you take some? You can buy worms for composting - they are different to the ones you might dig up from the depths of the soil. I'm pretty certain that the worms sold for fishing are the same as the ones which are good for composting. Maybe you have a fishing tackle shop locally which might sell worms - if not, here is a link to a worm site online...

http://www.scottishworms.com/

BTW...urine is an ideal compost activator!...