Start Composting at Home 
In addition to your Greensweep kerbside collection and green box and bag recycling service North Devon District Council is now giving residents the opportunity to start home composting. We have teamed up with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and are able to offer residents living within North Devon the opportunity to purchase a discounted home compost bin.
Composting your garden and kitchen waste reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.
Why compost?
In addition to your Greensweep kerbside collection and green box and bag recycling service North Devon District Council is now giving residents the opportunity to start home composting. We have teamed up with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and are able to offer residents living within North Devon the opportunity to purchase a discounted home compost bin.
Composting your garden and kitchen waste reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.
Why compost?
Why Compost?
Composting at home is one of the easiest, most effective and environmentally-friendly ways of recycling kitchen and garden green (organic) rubbish.
When organic waste is sent to landfill sites instead of decomposing it generates methane gas, which contributes towards global warming, and a toxic liquid called leachate.
Buy a composter
All North Devon Council residents can purchase discounted home compost bins through our offer with WRAP. We offer three sizes of composter suitable for making compost from garden waste and kitchen peelings, but not food waste. The composters open at the base and are best sited on grass or soil.
For further information and guidance on home composting visit the composting information on the Recycle Now website.
The composters are:
- £8 for a 220 litre composter (220L Compost Converter),
- £10 for a 330 litre composter (330L Compost Converter)
- £20 for a 250 litre composter (KOMP Composter)
To order
Call 0845 077 0757 and quote reference number "HCA1". Please note that this offer is limited to three bins per household.
Order on-line directly from Recycle Now or download an application form
and post it to WRAP (North Devon) Campaign, Freepost, LS14 1YY.
What you can Compost
Call 0845 077 0757 and quote reference number "HCA1". Please note that this offer is limited to three bins per household.
Order on-line directly from Recycle Now or download an application form
and post it to WRAP (North Devon) Campaign, Freepost, LS14 1YY.What you can Compost
| Things you can compost | Things never to put in a compost |
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How long will it take
Composting is a natural process of decay, so don't expect finished compost overnight! The process takes part in 2 stages.
1) Bacteria and fungi break down the grass cuttings and food scraps heating up the mixture and using lots of oxygen. Typically, this stage takes only 5-10 days.
2) The mixture then cools. Larger invertebrates such as beetles, worms and woodlice work to break-down the paper, cardboard and fallen leaves. These helpful creatures need air too, so it’s a good idea to turn or aerate your compost regularly during this stage.
Depending on the mix of materials and the amount of turning this stage may take 3-12 months (like all natural processes, composting is slower in the winter).
Where can I put a compost bin?
- On soil or grass so that soil creatures can get into the bin.
- Place in a good sunny spot if possible. The hotter the compost gets the quicker the rubbish will rot down.
- Place away from the house, if possible, in case the bin attracts flies and other unwanted pests or smells.
How can I use my compost? 
- it can be dug into the soil, adding nutrients and improving the soil structure (helping heavy soils drain and be worked more easily).
- it can be spread in thick layers (3-4 inches) over planting beds as a mulch, keeping down weeds, preventing water evaporation and slowly feeding the soil.
- sieving your compost and mixing with soil and a little sand makes an excellent potting medium for houseplants.
