Week 2

Composting

Showers : 24

Dishwasher cycles: 9 (on eco setting)

Washing machine: 7 (on eco setting, using cold water)

Lights on at night: approx. 17

Bins of rubbish: 4 (small bin)

Meat products bought: 3

Bins of recycling: 1/3 (large bin)

This week I have focused on composting. We have a compost bin in our backyard which has rarely been used and so I have encouraged all my housemates to try and compost their coffee grounds, plant trimmings, and food scraps. We can then use the end product to fertilise our small backyard garden!
Plant trimmings and food scraps make up 1/6 of our waste that we put into the rubbish bin at home. Organic waste does not need to be thrown away, but can instead be put to good use in our back gardens. Composting converts leaves, gardening off-cuts and left overs into a mixture that can be used as a fertiliser and reduces the amount of water we need to sustain our gardens. (Environment Victoria, 2014) A great way to minimise your household’s organic waste is to make or buy a compost bin for your yard. 

Some things that are not compostable, are foods that contain dairy, meat or oils, pet excrement, diseased plants and weeds that have gone to seed.
To start, layer the inside of your compost bin with brown materials then alternate between greens and browns to add layers of carbon and nitrogen. These materials compost better when they are in smaller pieces so it is good to shred or chop up larger pieces. The pile must be kept moist so it is important to water the bin if it becomes too dry. During Summer you can water the pile once to twice a week when it is not raining. After about a week the pile will be ready for turning. The pile should be turned once a week to ensure that it is well-aired. This also controls any odours that may develop. (Minnesota Control Agency, 2010)

There are two different types of compostable materials. Greens and browns. Both these types of materials provide different and essential nutrients that help create a rich and quality compost.


Greens include fresh leaves, fruit and vegetables scraps, grass clippings, tea bags, coffee grounds and even human or animal hair. These produce nitrogen and are a source of protein for microbes that live inside your compost heap.
Browns include straw, wood chips, sawdust, shredded newspaper, dried grass and leaves, corn cobs and stalks, twigs and branches. These produce carbon and energy for the microbes. (Minnesota Control Agency, 2010)

This is our compost bin, full to the brim with organic waste!