Residents

Did you know that over half of the domestic waste placed in your garbage bin is compostable? Backyard composting of certain food scraps and yard trimmings can significantly reduce the amount of waste in your bin.

Finished compost can improve soil texture, increase the ability of soil to absorb air and water, suppress weed growth and reduce the need to apply commercial soil additives.

Want a FREE compost bin and a FREE kitchen tidy bin?

To help you get started at your own composting, Council is giving away a free compost bin and kitchen tidy bin until June 30, 2012. To be eligible, you need to attend one of Council's composting and worm farming workshops. To find out when the next workshop is on and to book in call Council on 9839 6000.

PLUS buy a worm farm, compost or bokashi bin between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2012 and you can receive a rebate from Council to the value of $25.00.

For more information on the organics recycling rebate scheme and to download the brochure to receive your rebate click the PDF below

 Organics recycling rebate.pdf  (55 kb)

How Do I Start Composting?

Composting is the biological decay process that converts leaves, grass and food scraps into crumbly earth-like substances.

It is nature's way of recycling organic wastes into new soil.

Composting is easy. Just follow these 7 simple steps:

1. Choose whether you want a bin or a heap.

2. Add 10cm sticks and twigs to add air to your compost.

3. Layer the bottom with coarse materials (from your garden) then fine materials (from your kitchen). A 1cm layer of soil can be added to aid the composting process. Repeat these steps until all materials are used up.

4. Water each layer to ensure that materials are moist.

5. Keep each layer 1-2 cm thick and use a variety of materials in each layer.

6. Cover your heap with a piece of carpet or hessian.

7. Turn every one to two weeks.

Where can you get a compost bin from?

To make it even easier Council sells compost bins and worm farms to its residents. They can be purchased from Council's Civic Centre on Flushcombe Road, Blacktown. The price of a compost bin is $46.00 delivered and the price of a worm farm is $68.00. Worm farms need to be picked up at Council. Alternatively, you can get either compost bins or worm farms from local hardware stores or garden centres.

For more Information on effective composting, click here

Click on pdf below for an Easy Compost guide:

 Easy Guide to Composting.pdf  (519 kb)