Managing waste from your garden

Home composting

Turn your kitchen and garden waste into free, nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Composting is easy, low-cost and good for the environment.

Why compost?

  1. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill
  2. It saves you money on shop-bought compost
  3. It improves soil health and promotes healthier plants
  4. It helps avoid peat-based composts that damage natural habitats

How to compost at home

You can compost most garden waste and some food waste at home. All you need is a compost bin or heap in your garden.

What to compost

  • fruit and vegetable peelings
  • tea bags and coffee grounds
  • grass cuttings and leaves
  • cardboard and shredded paper
  • garden prunings and twigs

What to avoid composting

  • cooked food
  • meat or dairy products
  • pet waste
  • glossy paper or magazines

Get started

These guides can help you set up and manage your compost:

Page last modified: 6 November 2025