1) Add fresh materials daily – do not leave waste hanging around in buckets/caddies getting smelly and attracting flies
2 ) Line your buckets/caddies with some paper and or card to soak up liquids and make cleaning easier
3) Always make sure you have the right mix of wet to dry materials – fresh raw and cooked to dry woodchip/sawdust and mix well together
4) It’s easy to store dry woodchip, just cover it up in a bay or use a container
5) There’s plenty of woodchip around, you could ask if any parents or governors have a tree surgery business and could supply you. Alternatively wood pellets are easy to use.
6) Wherever possible chop up whole fruit and vegetables or large items
7) Tumble and mix every time you add fresh materials
8) Leave enough space for tumbling to occur
9) Keep records of what you are doing e.g. amounts, weights, volumes, types of materials, observations of moisture, temperature and odour. This can be linked to curriculum work and some real understanding of the biological processes – pH monitoring using simple litmus tests at different stages of the composting would also be interesting. This monitoring can inform other schools as to how to develop better practice.
10) Cardboard and paper should not be added to tumbling systems in any large quantity as they tend to absorb too much moisture, do not offer structure allowing air flow and tend to conglomerate into balls.
11) Observe what is going on and take steps to rectify any problems as soon as possible, this generally means adjusting the moisture levels or emptying the tumbler into the maturation bin.
12) It’s rare for the compost to be too dry but if it does seem to be too dry it’s better to try and add fresh green material than water.
13) Don’t panic! Compost happens!
6. Troubleshooting
If you are troubleshooting then the guidelines have probably not been followed carefully enough.
Flies – a few are quite natural but swarms are more tricky. Fruit flies like fruit obviously so frequent emptying into an active system on a daily basis it the best thing to do. Getting the mix right is essential. Blow flies are attracted to fresh meat, you shouldn’t have this in your system except perhaps in very small quantities, a hot active system is essential. If you do get large maggots in the compost or lots of blow flies around, try and find some laurel leaves and add them to the composter.
Other insects, ants, woodlice, beetles – these are all perfectly fine, ant colonies can sometimes take up residence.
If you really need help! Please ring our expert, Nicky Scott, Community Composting Coordinator for Devon local authorities on 01647 433148
