Start a compost

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Composting is a cheap and natural process. It’s a great way to minimise food and garden waste. 

 

Reduce your food and garden waste

Why composting matters

Adding compost to your garden will enrich your soil and improve its structure. Spreading a layer around plants can also help to reduce weeds, moderate soil temperature, and keep moisture. 

Composting also supports wildlife and different ecosystems while giving you a simple way to get some fresh air and be outside. 

 

How composting works in flats

 Some of our residents have started a shared community composting site.  

You can put your compost in a shared bin in a communal area. If you’d like to know more about this opportunity or would like to set up your own bin then let us know.  

 

Buy a compost bin

We have teamed up with Get Composting. They offer discounted rates on compost bins, water butts and a whole range of accessories. 

 

How to start composting

Follow these easy steps once you get your bin to ensure your compost is off to a great start:  

• place your bin in a sunny spot in your garden, preferably on soil but it will work on paving or gravel  
• position your bin near to the house  
• start adding an even amount of 'greens' and 'browns' to your compost bin  

• greens are weeds, grass, tea bags, old flowers, vegetable and fruit peelings, and plant trimming  

• browns are twigs, leaves, cardboard, paper, shredded paper, straw, hay, and eggshells  

• do not compost cooked food/vegetables, meat, fish, bones, dairy, cheese, milk and dog poo 

• wait for a while and let the nature do the work  

It takes between nine and twelve months for your compost to become ready for use. Keep on adding greens and browns to top up your compost in the meantime.

 

Training and workshops

Free online composting training

If you live in Redbridge, you can take a free online composting course. It is run by Garden Organic. 

The course has five short modules. They cover basic to more detailed composting. Each module takes 10 to 20 minutes. You can go at your own pace and can stop and come back at any time. 

Free in-person composting group workshops

You can book a free composting workshop for your group. This can be a community group, school, or friends and neighbours. 

You need 10 to 15 people to have a workshop. Everyone should be happy to take part. 

Community composting in our parks  

Community composting bins are available in several parks. They help reduce waste and carbon. 

Park locations: 

• Clayhall Park – near the Park Keeper’s compound, Longwood Gardens
• Goodmayes Park – near the Park Keeper’s compound, Aberdour Road
• Loxford Park – Volleyball Compound (Saturdays, 9am to 11am only) 
• Seven Kings Park – near Epsom Road entrance 
• South Park – near the toilets, South Park Road entrance 
• Wanstead – outside Christ Church, Wanstead Place 

The sites are open during normal park hours.

What you can compost in our parks

You can add:

• uncooked fruit and vegetables 
• peelings 
• tea bags 
• coffee grounds 
• paper caddy liners 
• unwrapped dead flowers 

Do not use compostable food bags. If you need a liner, use brown paper, newspaper, or thin cardboard. 

A full list of accepted items is shown at each site.