Disposing of Electronic Waste – Safely!

It’s no secret that we love our devices! Continuous advancements in technology bring new products and gadgets into our homes, resulting in old electronic goods that need to be disposed of. However, most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals that can be recovered, as well as harmful substances that need to be disposed of carefully.

A study into consumer shopping habits during the pandemic showed a surge in spending on new electrical devices like mobile phones, computers, small kitchen appliances and white goods. In fact, the annual tonnage of electrical goods rose from 15kg per person in 2016 to 21kg last year, according to WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan. However, unless these electronic devices are traded in for a new device, each of those gadgets eventually reaches the end of its useful life and becomes electronic waste.

Why should I recycle my electronic waste?

1. Electronics contain harmful substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which must be disposed of correctly. By recycling your e-waste, you are reducing the number of harmful substances going to landfills.
2. Raw materials recovered from waste appliances can be recycled and reused.
3. To conserve natural resources as materials such as plastics, glass and metals are recovered for use again by manufacturers.

So, what is the best way to dispose of electronic waste?

1. Give your e-waste to a certified electronics recycler
   Recycling centres, not for profit organisations, such as WEEE Ireland and local civic amenity sites allow you to recycle your electronic waste for FREE! You will find an interactive map on the WEEE website that will guide you to your nearest local recycling centre, Public Collection Day, Electrical Retailer and Bulb Exchange Store.
2. Sell your outdated technology
   One man’s junk is another’s treasure. You can easily sell your old electronic appliances on an online marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace or Donedeal. Not only are you promoting the circular economy by giving your e-waste a new lease of life, but it is also a good chance to make some money.

3. Donate your old electronics
   If you do not wish to sell your outdated technology, there is always the option to donate it. Many charities in Ireland accept electronics.

When selling/donating electronic goods, it is important to ask 2 questions:

• Is it working properly?
• Is there any personal information saved on the computer/phone/laptop that should be deleted?

With all of that in mind, we are hosting a FREE electronics recycling event with WEEE Ireland in our recycling centre in Oranmore on Saturday the 11^th of September.  

In 2020, 11.2 kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Galway – exceeding both the 2019 collection rate of 10.9kg, and the 2020 national average – also 10.9kg per person. However, Galway’s e-waste recycling target for 2021 has increased to 13kg per person, to reflect yearly increases in electrical goods consumption, accelerated by Covid-19.

To help our county meet the increased recycling targets, we are urging Galway householders to bring any electrical and electronic waste to our free collection day with WEEE Ireland.

What can I bring?
All household items with a plug or a battery will be accepted free of charge, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, and even watches.

Where is the WEEE collection event?
The City Bin Co. Recycling Centre, Oranmore, Co. Galway, H91 EVW3

When is the WEEE collection event?
Saturday September 11^th from 10am – 4pm

About WEEE Ireland

WEEE Ireland accounts for over two thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,189 producer members.

In 2020, the equivalent of 225,182 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,504 hectares of trees.

Moreover, 84% of all material that WEEE collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe, according to CEO Mr. Donovan.

We really look forward to working with Galway householders and WEEE Ireland to hopefully recycle a record-breaking amount of electronic waste in 2021!

7 Ways to Make Your Business More Sustainable

Sustainability can be defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. There are three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social.

In terms of business, a sustainable or green enterprise refers to one that has a minimal negative impact or possibly even a positive impact on the environment, community, society, or economy.

There are many ways your business can become more sustainable, but focusing on environmental impact, here are our top tips to boost your business’ efforts:

1 Go Paperless

A significant amount of paper printed in the workplace ends up in the bin before the day is out. Almost all formerly paper-based documents can now be handled digitally, for example, invoices, timesheets etc., making switching to digital simpler. Moreover, storing documents on cloud-based servers rather than print hard copies saves paper but also means you will never lose anything important.

2 Recycle More

About 75% of waste materials that end up in the grey bin could be recycled. The reason that a lot of people don’t recycle more is that it requires a little planning. However, at The City Bin Co., we will do this for you by;

• Carrying out a waste audit of what your business throws away and what’s recyclable.
• Putting a recycling plan in place & providing staff recycling training
• Stationing recycling bins throughout your office
• Providing a Bindex detailing your business’s recycling rates, allowing you to easily track improvements made and cost savings.

3 Switch to LED lighting

Bright LED lightbulbs use 4 to 10 times less energy than halogen and incandescent bulbs. One of the easiest ways to conserve energy is to switch out your current lightbulbs and replace them with LEDs. Although LEDs can be more expensive up front, they will pay for themselves over time through reduced energy usage and fewer lightbulb replacements.

4 Give your employees reusable water bottles and keep cups

An easy sustainability win is to ban plastic bottles at work and give your employees reusable bottles and keep cups. This change will need to be facilitated by installing water fountains or water coolers so that employees use these sources for drinking water. At The City Bin Co., we all use our own reusable cups, which saves the equivalent of 64,000 takeaway coffee cups a year.

5 Use Sustainable Products

Whether you are a restaurant or office block, your business can use sustainable products, such as printer paper, cleaning products or to-go containers.

6 Start Composting

If you own a restaurant or café that produces used coffee grinds and leftover food scraps, composting is not only a great way to divert waste from landfill but will also reduce your waste bill and it makes a brilliant resource to have your plants thriving. If you don’t have a garden to use your compost in, you can give away free compost to customers or donate it to local gardens.

7 Create a Sustainability Culture

For your organisation to be truly sustainable, you need to get buy-in from your employees. There are many ways in which you can instil green habits within your employees, here are some examples:

• Hang clear signage and posters that act as reminders to recycle and turn off lights etc.
• Encourage employees to take part in “greener” activities by rewarding sustainable practices such as riding a bike to work instead of driving.
• Make sure bins are clearly signposted and in the most useful location for your employees to dispose of waste correctly.

If you are interested in discovering how we can help you meet your sustainable business goals, click here. 

If you have any great sustainable business tips, we would love to hear them – contact us on any of our social media accounts below!

Most Sustainable Olympics Yet?

The organisers of the Olympics wanted to create a “minimal impact Games”, through a series of steps outlined in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Sustainability Plan.

The majority of venues that will host events already existed with several reused from the Tokyo 1964 Olympics and podiums and medals have been made from recycled materials.

The sustainability plan claims the games are moving “towards zero carbon” by “focusing on maximum energy savings and use of renewable energy”.

Read on for 10 design projects that aimed to make the games more sustainable…

Torch by Tokujin Yoshioka

The Olympic torches, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, were made up of recycled construction waste from temporary housing used in the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The designer used an extrusion technique to produce the 71-centimetre rose-gold torches, which resemble the national flower of Japan, the sakura flower. Both the relay torches and cauldron holding the Olympic flame are fueled by hydrogen instead of fossil gas.

Electric e-palette vehicle by Toyota

The autonomous and electric e-Palette vehicle was designed to transport Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the Olympic Village without generating emissions.

Japanese car company Toyota modified its existing fleet of e-Palette vehicles to better suit the needs of athletes who required fuss-free and comfortable transport.

Some of the modifications include widening the doors, lowering the flor and adding electric ramps to enable passengers – particularly wheelchair users – to board easily and quickly.

Medals by Junichi Kawanishi

Japanese designer Junichi Kawanishi extracted precious metal from old mobile phones and other e-waste donated by the public to create reflective, ribbon-like rings around the edge of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic medals.

Kawanishi’s winning medal design was selected from a competition that drew entries from more than 400 professional designers and design students. The medal cases which are manufactured from dyed Japanese ash wood, have been designed by Shinya Yoshida.

Beds by Airweave

Japanese bedding company Airweave produced these lightweight recycled cardboard beds and customisable mattresses for athletes.

Of the 18,000 beds and customisable mattresses created for athletes at this summer’s Olympics, 8,000 will be repurposed for use by athletes at the Paralympics.

The brand claims that the mattresses, which are made from polyethylene fibres, can be recycled an unlimited number of times.

Japan National Stadium by Kengo Kuma

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma created a wooden lattice design for the Japan National Stadium, which will house the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics events.

Torchbearer uniforms by Daisuke Obana

Recycled plastic bottles collected by Coca-Cola have been used in the white T-shirts and trousers worn by torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay.

The Tokyo Olympic Association designed the unisex Olympic torchbearer uniforms under the theme “hope lights our way”.

The designs all feature a sash with a chequered pattern that is known in Japan as ichimatsu moyo. The same pattern can be found in the Tokyo 2020 logos.

Basketball & Soccer Uniforms by Nike

Sportswear brand Nike used recycled polyester made from plastic bottles and recycled nylon as well as rubber and yarn waste from the company’s factories to create these uniforms.

Among them are soccer jerseys for the American, Korean and Nigerian teams, alongside kits for the USA’s men and women basketball teams.

The brand says that the uniforms will be the “most sustainable” and “highest performing” to date.

Podiums by Asao Tokolo

The winners at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will receive their medals on podiums made from 24.5 tonnes of discarded household plastics.

Japanese artist Asao Tokolo gathered the plastics from the Japanese public before recycling the material and turning it into filaments, which were used to 3D-print the podiums.

The equivalent of 400,000 bottles of laundry detergent was collected to create all 98 podiums that will be used during the Games.

Olympic Village Plaza by Nikken Sekkei

This temporary structure by Tokyo studio Nikken Sekkei was built using 40,000 pieces of Japanese wood. The pieces of cypress, cedar and larch were “borrowed” from local governments across Japan.

The timber space will be used as the central meeting and dining place for athletes, officials, guests and the media within the Olympic Village throughout the games.

Skateboarding Uniforms by Nike

Bright colours and geometric patterns adorn the skateboarding uniforms that Nike has designed for the first skateboarding competitors at the Olympic Games.

According to Nike, all of the skateboarding jerseys are made up of 100 per cent recycled polyester from “water bottles and other things that would go to waste”.

The sportswear company has created uniforms for the United States, France and Brazil. They will all be bringing teams to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to compete in the sport’s first street and park competitions at the Olympic level.

From original article at dezeen.com

Our Top Household Recycling Tips

Not exactly sure which bin your household item belongs in?
Don’t worry we’ve got you sorted with our household recycling guide!

With everyone spending more time at home, our recycling bins have become fuller and there is often some confusion about what exactly goes in each of our three bins: general waste, organic waste, and recycling bin. We have compiled a list of the top household items we get queries about to answer your questions quickly.

Dirty cans & plastic bottles

These should all be put cleaned out and put into the recycling bin. If an item in the recycling bin is heavily soiled/dirty, it will contaminate the whole bin.

Glass

We cannot accept glass of any kind in the recycling or general waste bins, so glass items will need to be taken to a local bottle bank.

Plastic caps

With advancements in recycling technology, there is no longer a need to remove plastic caps from bottles before recycling. Now it’s easier than ever to recycle those plastic bottles!

Pizza boxes

Ah, the pizza box! One that causes confusion for sure.

Depending on where you get your pizza, many pizza boxes are now compostable, meaning you can put it in the organic (brown) bin. Otherwise, if your pizza box is not soiled, you can put it in the recycling bin. If your pizza box is soiled, and not compostable, you will need to put it in the general waste bin.

Aluminium foil

If it’s clean, absolutely it can be recycled! But soiled, aluminium foil will need to be put in the general waste bin.

We also tested some of the Connacht Rugby players on their household recycling skills.
Let’s see how they got on!

Just remember, all items in the recycling bin should be clean, dry & loose.

Top Rubbish Removal Tips for your Next DIY Project

Rubbish removal is something every home and business owner must be aware of when starting a DIY project. Here at The City Bin Co., we want to remove the hassle of waste clearance by offering three rubbish removal solutions in Galway and Dublin.

To eliminate some of the stress of undertaking a DIY project, we have put together our top tips for dealing with waste from any DIY project.

Consider the size of your DIY project…

The amount of waste you create will depend on the type of project undertaken. Firstly, the size of the DIY project indicates how much waste is likely to be produced during work. Secondly, you will have a better idea of what types of waste likely to be met along the way.

Figuring out how much waste your DIY project will create will help determine if you need to hire a skip, if you should avail of a junk collection service, or if you can manage to dispose of your waste at your local recycling centre.

Educate yourself on waste disposal procedures…

Improving your knowledge is an important part of the DIY rubbish removal process. There are many useful blogs and tutorials available online. Some great topics to start with include environmental waste disposal, DIY guides, best rubbish removal practices in Ireland, waste recycling and upcycling ideas. Once you understand waste removal best practices you will be better equipped for getting rid of junk from your property.

Pick a suitable rubbish removal solution…

We have two hassle-free cost-effective options for rubbish removal in Dublin and Galway, Skip Hire, and our Junk Collection service.

Skip Hire

We have Skip sizes to suit any size DIY project you’re starting.

• Our mini skip is perfect for DIY jobs, general clear-outs, or renovations on your business or home.
• Our standard skip is suitable for large home or work clear-outs, as well as bigger home renovations.
• Our large skip is the perfect option for large projects, or large producers of waste domestically, industrially or for your business.

Junk Collection Service

Our Junk Collection Service is a great low-cost alternative to skip hire, or if you do not have enough space on your premises for a skip. Our hassle-free Junk Collection Service is a simple and effective rubbish removal option for households and businesses undertaking DIY projects.

Happy DIY-ing! & if you book one of our collections, we’d love to see your ‘before & after’ shots!

ChildVision – Looking to the Future

ChildVision is Ireland’s only dedicated centre for children with sight loss, some of whom also have profound sensory impairments and additional disabilities. They provide educational services, clinical services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy.

Problems existing before starting their sustainability journey

• Before starting to work with The City Bin Co., ChildVision had a one bin fits all system i.e General Waste bins all over the campus. The school were producing over 40 tons of general waste per year, meaning that a large amount waste was ending up in landfill. Heavy general waste bins also meant ChildVision’s waste bills were higher than they should have been.

How did The City Bin Co. help?

• To relieve the pain of high waste bills and to increase ChildVision’s recycling rates, The City Bin Co. installed colour-coded bins for each waste stream across campus.
• We worked with ChildVision to carry out waste segregation training with staff and pupils in order to maintain a greener environment for all involved.

What results have ChildVision seen so far?

• In 2019 Child Vison diverted over 17 tonnes away from landfill with help from The City Bin Co. This was in total 40% of their waste production for 2019. In 2020 Child Vision diverted over 13 tonnes away from landfill*. This was 48% of their total waste production. ChildVision increased recycling rates by 8% from year 1 to year 2 of The Zero Project. Everyone at ChildVision has taken the training on board and the school has become more environmentally aware, doing their upmost to continue to recycle as much as possible.

*COVID affected this school so there were 14 tonnes less produced in total versus 2019 but their recycling habits had improved from year 1, 2019.

Ongoing 2021 Plans

• ChildVision aims to continue improving marginal gains and have set the goal of achieving a recycling rate of over 50% for 2021.

Check out other case study videos…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QrNPue0XM8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXHkX07uLvE

And if you would like more information on the Zero Project, please contact Gary McGrane, The City Bin Co. email gary.mcgrane@citybin.com

Or for a quote for your own project get in touch with us here.

A Day in the Life with Trevor

They’re usually done before the customers even wake up. So, what does a typical day look like for your local binman? We caught up with Trevor Cross from our Dublin team to find out…

So, Trevor, what time did today’s shift start?
TC: The alarm went off around 4.30am this morning. Today was a 5.30 start as we were doing a commercial route. If it was a domestic day, we’d start collecting after 6.30. Yesterday took a bit longer than usual as we helped out another crew in our area.

Are the early starts the worst thing?
TC: No, not really. You get used to them and it’s great to start early and finish early. I love having more time at home with the family, especially with the brighter evenings. Yesterday I took the young fella off for an ice cream when I got home, it’s great to be able to do that. The worst thing can be traffic, or impatient drivers! Sometimes people can get a little unreasonable, but mostly folks understand that we’re just doing our job.

I’m not sure everyone would get used to those early alarm calls! How long have you been with The City Bin Co. & what keeps you there?
TC: I’ve been driving for about 12 years I think, I’d have to check to make sure! What keeps me here? It’s a mix of things really – I like the people I work with, everyone gives each other a dig out when it’s needed. We’ve a good crew in the office looking after us and, of course, the customers. It’s odd to think that they’d become a part of your day, but you really do get to know lots of them and their needs, especially the older customers. Some of them need a bit more help getting the bins out, so we nip in to get them. Different people have different challenges – and we’ll always do a bit extra when we can.

Covid, as well, was a real eye-opener for us. Once we were recognised as an ‘essential service’ we really saw a huge response from our customers. There were signs in windows, kids’ drawings stuck on bins, ‘thank yous’ in chalk on the driveway – all sorts… even Easter eggs! It was important though because it showed us that those customers were doing their bit to keep us safe and that they trusted us to do our bit too.

Are you happy driving, or is there more you want to do?
TC: I’m at my happiest behind the wheel, but there’s plenty of other things to keep me busy apart from the day job. A group of us did a computer course through work a few months ago which I thought I’d struggle with, but it was great to do it as everything is going computerised now. We even got a free laptop as part of it which was fully set up for me with Zoom and Word and all the bits I would need. Since then, we went and a First Aid Responder course online which was really great to do. While I might not be an expert in a medical emergency, but it gave me great confidence to know how to respond if I come across an accident when I’m out on the road! There’s someone in the business who organises these courses for us, so there’s no excuse not to do one or two.
And we’re always adding new services like skips and junk collection, which keeps things interesting. Never a dull moment!

Finally – I asked you earlier what the worst thing was. I think it’s only fair to ask you what the best part of the job is…
TC: The best part? Definitely the customers… the young kids waving to us always makes our day! We even have our own City Bin Juniors club for the little ones, so hopefully, they’ll grow up to be City Bin customers!

Interested in working with us? Check out our available roles here.

Surmodics – Science meets Sustainability

Surmodics, a leading medical device company based in Ballinasloe, started their sustainability journey with The City Bin Co. in February 2021. Surmodics identified the need to increase recycling rates and their sustainability efforts, whilst reducing costs, and therefore kickstarted The Zero Project.

 Prior to February 2021

• Surmodics was using a number of 1100 litre bins for both general waste and recycling. The bins were many different colours and therefore caused confusion in terms of waste segregation, which resulted in low recycling rates. 
• Surmodics’ site is rather large, and was producing enormous amounts of grass, which was being tended to by a tractor lawn mower. This was resulting in high carbon emissions.

February 2021

• Surmodics kickstarted their sustainability journey with The Zero Project. 
• The City Bin Co. installed Front End Loader (FEL) bins onsite. The type of waste generated by Surmodics is dry industrial and therefore a good fit for the FEL bins. The waste is removed and transported to a recycling depot where it is sorted and either reused or recycled, helping Surmodics divert waste from landfill.
• Surmodics replaced outdoor and indoor fluorescent lights with LED lights. This has resulted in a total carbon saving of 25.5 tonnes, and there is no longer any fluorescent gas or lamps waste to dispose of. 
• Introduced light sensors that control 95% of Surmodics’ lights, ensuring lights automatically switch off during quieter times, saving energy. 
• Surmodics started working towards going paperless by introducing an e-signature, creating a paperless accounts payment system. 
• Surmodics provided keep cups and re-usable water bottles for their employees, cutting down on unneeded waste. 

March 2021

• The City Bin Co. carried out a waste audit onsite and put a plan together to ensure segregation of waste. 
• Surmodics have stopped working with a landscape gardener for their few acres of grass, and introduced the Mobot, an electric robot lawnmower. The Mobot does not waste grass and does not require fuel to cut the grass. This has resulted in carbon savings of 0.6 tonnes for the site.  

Ongoing 2021 Plans

• Ensuring the Zero Project standard is held amongst employees – providing training to make the team more aware of the impact of their business moving towards zero waste to landfill. 

Check out other case study videos…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QrNPue0XM8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXHkX07uLvE

And if you would like more information on the Zero Project, please contact John Farrell, The City Bin Co. email john@citybin.com

Or for a quote for your own project get in touch with us here.

Why should we Compost?

No matter how much we try to reduce food waste there will always be scraps left over such as banana skins and eggshells. Composting is the perfect way to get the final use out of your food.

Benefits of composting

1. Cut waste expenses and save money

On average, food, and garden waste accounts for over 1/3 of household waste. By preventing food waste and composting what you can, you will save money on your waste bill.

2. Create healthy soil

With compost, you are creating rich humus, a magical ingredient when it comes to creating healthy soil. It is full of nutrients and life and is even better when you make it at home. Compost improves soil fertility, texture, structure, and moisture, which inevitably produces healthier, disease-resistant plants.

3. Prevent waste and conserve resources

By composting your food and garden waste, you can divert as much as 30% of household waste away from your bin. This diverts waste from landfill, reducing methane gas and therefore reducing the rate of global warming and climate change. By composting your food and garden waste, you also contribute to saving the fuel needed to move the waste around.

4. Protect biodiversity

Peat moss, taken from Ireland’s bogs and peatlands, is commonly used to improve soil. However, these peatlands are home to many species of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered. By making your own compost at home, you will reduce the need to purchase peat moss and therefore help protect the biodiversity of Ireland’s peatlands.

By composting at home, you are helping the planet and saving money, whilst giving your garden the magical resource it needs to thrive.

Read our easy guide to making your own compost here.

An Easy Guide to Composting

Homemade compost is a magical resource for your garden and will have your plants thriving, whilst also helping to keep your waste costs down. According to StopFoodWaste.ie, “composting is the natural process of decomposition that turns organic materials like garden waste and vegetable food scraps into a dark, crumbly and earthy smelling material”.

Use the compost to improve your flower garden, lawn or feed your growing veggies. Once you get your compost pile started, you will find that it’s an easy way to reuse kitchen scraps and other organic materials, whilst helping your garden thrive.

How to make compost?

To make the perfect compost you should have a 50:50 blend of materials that are rich in nitrogen and carbon. Nitrogen can be retrieved from grass clippings or other lush, green material, and carbon comes from woody material, such as cardboard or woody stems. For every bucket of green material, you should have the same amount of brown.

Ensure your compost does not have too much nitrogen, or grass cuttings, as this will result in a very smelly compost bin. On the other hand, if your compost has too much carbon, the composting process will be very slow.

Step 1: Combine the green and brown materials.

Place your compost bin directly on the soil – worms and other micro-organisms will speed up the composting process. Chicken wire at the base will keep rodents out. Add an equal mix of green and brown materials.

Step 2: Water your pile.

You want your compost pile to have the consistency of a wet sponge, so you will need to sprinkle water over it regularly. Be careful not to add too much water or the microorganisms in your pile will become waterlogged and drown. If this happens, your pile will rot instead of compost. Your compost pile should feel warm if you reach your hand into the middle of the pile.

Step 3: Stir up your pile.

You should provide your compost pile with oxygen by turning it with a garden fork once a week. Turning the pile will help it compost faster and prevents material from developing an odour.

Step 4: Feed your garden.

When the compost no longer gives off heat and becomes dry, brown, and crumbly, it’s ready to feed to your garden. – this will take about 2-6 months. Add about 4 to 6 inches of compost to your flower beds and into your pots at the beginning of each planting season.

What to compost?

Nitrogen-rich waste (green):

• Grass clippings
• Annual weeds
• Fruit and veg peelings.
• Nettle leaves
• Teabags

Carbon-rich waste (brown):

• Prunings
• Hedge trimmings
• Paper or newspaper (loosely scrunched up is best)
• Cardboard
• Straw
• Sawdust
• Paper towels
• Paper bags

You can also add eggshells, natural fibres (wool or cotton), and wood ash (not too much).

Is there anything you can’t compost?

There are some items such as food waste that you should not be home composted as it creates problems with odours, rodents, etc. Here is a list of items that should not be composted:

• Diseased plants
• Perennial weeds
• Cooked food
• Citrus (slow to rot and very acidic, which reduces worm activity)
• Raw meat
• Dairy products
• Gloss or colour-printed paper
• Ash from coal fires
• Cat or dog faeces
• Autumn leaves – these are best used to make leaf mould.

Compost is incredibly easy to make, environmentally friendly and a wonderful treat for your garden plants. With just some kitchen scraps and patience, your garden will be thriving. Read about all the benefits of composting at home here.

And here’s a great blog post by CulinaryAmbition.com that profiles some excellent kitchen composters for your food waste.