Composting

Most organic materials/wastes will slowly rot (decompose). Composting is a method of controlling the decomposition process to form a compost that may be used as a soil conditioner or surface mulch.

Approximately one-third of household waste is organic; this is the portion of waste that causes the production of leachate and landfill gas. This waste is suitable for composting.

Composting is easy, cheap and a great way of getting rid of the unwanted "smelly" portion of your household waste while producing good quality compost for your garden. Anyone who has a garden should have a compost bin or heap for the decomposition of their household and garden waste. The types of waste that can be composted include vegetable peelings, tea leaves, egg shells, paper and cardboard and garden wastes.

The advantages from composting organic waste include:

• Reduction in the amount of waste going for final disposal
• Easier to recycle the rest of the waste
• Reduction in the amount of organic waste going to landfills, which reduced methane and leachate problems.
• Valuable compost is produced for use in the garden