By using this site you agree to our use of cookies. Click for more information.
Caerphilly Logo
Sign up for e-mail alerts
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
  • News centre
  • My pages
  • Cymraeg
  • Popular tasks
  • Resident
  • Business
  • Things to do
  • The council
  • Get involved
  • Popular tasks
    • Job vacancies
    • Covid-19 - Latest information regarding school provision
    • Covid-19 vaccination information
    • Supporting People - housing related support
    • Apply, report, request, pay
    • School term dates and closures
    • Missed waste collections
    • Bus timetables
    • Recycling centres
    • Housing benefit and Universal Credit
    • Flooding advice and assistance
    • Waste collection days
  • Resident
  • Business
  • Things to do
  • The council
  • Get involved
Can I help?
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) : latest information, advice and support
  • Resident    Bins and recycling    Recycle and reduce waste    Compost bins

Compost bins

Approximately 30% of the contents of your bin are kitchen scraps and garden waste, which are organic materials and can be turned into compost for your garden.

What can I compost?

Here's some information about what you can add to your bin to make the best compost. Aim for a balance of 50% greens and 50% browns in your compost bin to get the right mix.

'Greens'

Quick to rot and provide important nitrogen and moisture.

  • Animal manure with straw
  • Annual weeds
  • Bindweed
  • Bracken
  • Brussels sprout stalk
  • Carrot tops
  • Citrus peel
  • Coffee grounds
  • Comfrey leaves
  • Cut flowers
  • Deadly Nightshade
  • Fruit peelings and pulp
  • Fruit seeds
  • Grass mowings
  • Hay
  • Hedge clippings
  • House plants
  • Ivy leaves
  • Nettles
  • Old bedding plants
  • Perennial weeds
  • Poisonous plants
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Seaweed
  • Soft prunings and plant debris
  • Tea leaves and bags
  • Urine
  • Vegetable peelings and pulp

'Browns' 

Slower to rot, provide carbon & fibre and allow air pockets to form.

  • Autumn leaves
  • Cardboard
  • Christmas tree
  • Corn starch liners
  • Cotton towels
  • Cotton wool
  • Egg boxes
  • Egg shells
  • Evergreen prunings
  • Hair
  • Natural corks
  • Nuts
  • Paper bags
  • Privet
  • Straw
  • Sweetcorn cobs
  • Thorny prunings
  • Tomato plants
  • Used kitchen paper
  • Vacuum cleaner contents
  • Wood ash
  • Wool

Keep this out!

Certain things should never be placed in your bin.

  • Bones – may attract pests
  • Bread – may attract pests
  • Cans – will not degrade
  • Cat litter – may contain disease
  • Cigarette ends – chemicals may be released into the compost
  • Cling film – will not degrade
  • Coal ash – contaminants may cause damage to plants
  • Crisp packets – will not degrade
  • Dairy products – may attract pests
  • Disposable nappies – health risk
  • Dog faeces – may contain disease
  • Dog food – may attract pests
  • Drink cartons – will not degrade
  • Meat and fish scraps – may attract pests
  • Olive oil – may attract pests
  • Plastic bags – will not degrade
  • Plastic bottles – will not degrade
  • Soiled tissues – may be a health risk 

The benefits of home composting

  • Composting diverts organic waste from landfill and helps to reduce the build up of green house gasses such as methane.
  • Compost is rich in nutrients and can provide an excellent soil conditioner for your garden. It is free and is a complete fertiliser for all plants and vegetables. It provides basic plant food and a soil conditioner called humus, which improves both soil fertility and structure.
  • Compost can be used instead of harmful fertilisers and peat.

Purchasing a compost bin

We no longer offer a subsidised service. Instead, you can purchase compost bins from garden centres, DIY shops and online retailers.

 

Contact us
  • Telephone
Facebook Share on Facebook
Twitter Share on Twitter
 
Post Feedback
Add to my pages
 
Print this
a to z of services
  • a
  • b
  • c
  • d
  • e
  • f
  • g
  • h
  • i
  • j
  • k
  • l
  • m
  • n
  • o
  • p
  • q
  • r
  • s
  • t
  • u
  • v
  • w
  • x
  • y
  • z

Connect to us on social media and join in the conversation


For your experience this site is best viewed in Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Mozilla Firefox 27 or higher, Safari 7 or higher, Chrome 30 or higher, Opera 12 or higher or equivalent browser software.

  • Disclaimer
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
Copyright © 2014, Caerphilly County Borough Council, All Rights Reserved.