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Help Protect

Kerry’s

Environment and

Save Money ...

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!

Protecting Kerry’s Environment

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Seo é do sheans timpeallacht Ciarraí a

fheabhsú. Dein do chuid aoilleach fhéin

ag a baile, agus coiméad an láthair

drámhíola folamh. Mar a dúirt an té a

dúirt, ‘I dtosach na haicíde is fusa í a

leigheas’.

Mas féidir leat gearradh siar ar do chuid

bruscair ag a baile, beidh sé níos easca

orainn é a bhainistiú. Bain triail as,

‘I ndiaidh a chéile is ea a dhéantar na

caisleán’.

page

02 foreword

03 what is composting?

04 how do I start?

05 home composting bins ...

07 alternative ways of composting ...

08 how do I compost?

09 what’s in and what’s out ...

10 how to use your compost ...

11 common problems and simple solutions ...

13 what else can I do to help the environment?

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REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE YOU PRODUCE

Over one third of the contents of your wheelie bin is made up of organic material. The bin also contains glass, aluminiumand paper. IN TOTAL NEARLY 50% OF YOUR BIN CONTENTS ISRECYCLABLE RIGHT NOW!

If you put these materials into your bin they are landfilled.When organic material is landfilled it can cause environmental problems.

Get into home composting and keep organic waste from landfill - and at the same time produce a useful product for your

garden and save money!

This booklet tells you all you need to know about home composting.

In Kerry we have one landfill site which services the entire county. Due to low recyclingrates and an ever growing mountain of waste being produced this landfill is filling rapidly.Over 65,000 tonnes of waste is disposed of to landfill in Kerry each year. This figure isgrowing at a rate of 4% annually. This can’t continue. We as individuals need to changeour ways. A few simple changes by each individual can make a big difference - Shop for the environment, recycle more and get into home composting!

Every man, woman and child in Kerry produces roughly half a tonne of rubbish each year, 97% of this is landfilled. A typical bin is made up of the following:

Organics 34% Metals 4% Textiles 5%Glass 6% Paper 23% Plastics 8%Other 20%

Over one third of every bin is made up of organic material. This includes materials such as grass clippings, fruit and vegetable waste, coffee grounds, teabags, egg shells, dead leaves, uncooked food scraps and general garden waste.

If you separate this waste at home and compost it, you will save landfill space, along with providing your garden with the many benefits of the nutrients in the compost.

HOME COMPOSTING IS POSSIBLY THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE ACTIONYOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT KERRY’S ENVIRONMENT - AND IT’S SIMPLE!

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WHAT IS COMPOSTING?‘Composting turns your waste into a usefulproduct.’ Organic wastes, such as materialsfrom the kitchen and garden, have a com-mon trait that distinguishes them fromother household wastes, they decompose quickly. This decomposition and subsequentreturn to the soil, is entirely natural and is akey cycle upon which all life depends. Whenthis material is separated from other householdwaste, and allowed to decompose in the presence of air and a certain amountof water, organic waste is converted into a crumbly soil-like material called compost. The composting process involves millions of tiny creatures, most ofwhich are too small to be seen by the naked eye. These creatures include bacteria, insects, fungi, and worms.

WHY COMPOST?Making compost is good for the environment because:• Saves landfill space• Reduces green house gas emissions from landfill• Cuts down on burning waste in the back garden• Enriches the soil• Raises environmental awareness • Discourages illegal dumping of organic waste• Saves you money

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HOME COMPOSTING FOR YOU?Making your Garden GrowAdding compost to your garden helps your flowers and vegetables in two majorways: by supplying needed nutrients and by conditioning the soil.

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I don’t have a garden?Compost will make grass healthier. Spread it on you lawn and watch it createthe same wonderful benefits for you that it does for your gardening friends.You can also use it on potted plants in your home.

I don’t have a lawn, and I don’t have a garden?Give your compost to someone you know who has a garden. Every good gardener will gladly accept it, as they know the value of compost.

It will SAVE YOU MONEY ...Eventually households will pay for waste disposal according to weight. Yourwheelie bin will be weighed as it is lifted, and you will be charged accordingly.The more you reduce, recycle and compost the less you send to landfill. ...This means you will pay less. ‘Slow the flow and save some dough’.

HOW DO I START COMPOSTING?Compost simply happens, it’s a natural process. No sense getting all excited andworrying about it. Don’t time it and wonder why it isn’t done yet. Never worrythat you simply can’t compost - or that you are not doing it right. Put a systemin place that best suits you, your family, and the space you live in. Having a gar-den is a bonus but is certainly not a necessity. However we do not recommendthat you put your home composter on a concrete surface, as it prevents soilcreatures from doing their job. Find a suitable location, begin to separate yourorganic waste at home and simply feed your composter.

WHAT DO I NEED TO START HOME COMPOSTING?There are a few ways you can compost, from the fairly elaborate ‘wormery’ to the basic ‘heap’ it’s really up to you. A special plastic container called a‘Home Composting Bin’ can be purchased from Kerry County Council.Alternatively you can build your own, some designs are included later in thisbooklet. Because composting is a natural process there is no need for any kindof structure, although for convenience many people decide to use the plasticcontainers. It is important to think carefully about where you locate your composting bin or heap. Have it placed close enough to your house to give easyaccess, especially during the winter. Also remember to have it close enough towhere you will be using the finished compost.

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The ideal situation is to have a plastic

compost container for all food scraps

and kitchen waste along with some

garden waste, while at the same time

build a compost pile for the majority of your

garden waste and paper/cardboard.

HOME COMPOSTING BINThe easiest system for many people with little or no garden space, or peoplewho like the idea of a tidy closed container, are the commercially availablehome composting bins. There are many different types on the market. Theseunits have a capacity of approximately 250 to 300 litres, and should be largeenough for the average family. Most are made from recycled plastics. This styleof bin also retains moisture and heat Some oxygen is introduced each time thelid is opened, and in the case of some models air is allowed in through the baseplate, vents along the side and also through a spike in the middle.

Don’t worry if the bin is filling up quickly, nature’s great disappearing act isabout to begin. There will be a sizable decrease in the volume, even within aweek.

COMPOSTING BIN

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WHERE SHOULD I PUT THE BIN?

When deciding where to place the bin, there are a few guidelines to remember.

Place the bin on grass or earth ...This allows worms to enter the bin from underneath - worms help to keep aircirculating through the material and plenty of air is needed to speed up thecomposting process and avoid odours. Also as the material decomposes moisture seeps out and you’ll need to allow this liquid to soak into your grassor earth. To prevent vermin from getting into the composter it is advisable toplace ‘bird cage’ wire under the base of the composter.

Distance from house ...Place the bin not too far from your kitchen door, so it is easily accessed but farenough to allow bacteria, fungi, worms and beetles to work in peace.

Place the bin in a sunny spot ...The colour of the bin will absorb the sunrays without the risk of drying out thematerial in the bin. The composting process will speed up during the summermonths and slow down during winter.

Protect it from heavy rain ...Heavy rain may waterlog the bin, which will starve the bin of air and preventcomposting.

Once you’ve chosen your location loosen the soil in order to help drainage and make it easier for the worms and bacteria to pass into the bin from the surrounding earth.

For problem free composting, it is essential that there is good air circulation. It will be necessary to stir the material on a regular basis, to ensure that the material will not smell. A garden pike or a small hand shovel/spade will do perfectly.

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DIY COMPOSTING BINS

1 COMPOST PILENo construction necessary. Find a sheltered spot in yourbackyard to begin your pile. That’s all you need. Just keep in mind that items such as paper towels and napkins can blow around without a some sort ofshelter or protection around the pile.

2. WIRE-MESHTie a length of wire or plastic mesh into a circle, andattach the ends with a wire ties using pliers. Use and oldcarpet to cover, which will prevent the material frombecoming too wet.

3. SINGLE WOODEN UNITChoose a 3’ x 3’ square area for your compost bin. Use a sledgehammer to pound the four posts 2’ x 4’ into theground, three feet apart, at the corners of the square.One side can be left open to allow for easy access. A second unit would allow the compost to mature inone box while you add materials to the first box.

4. WOODEN PALLET UNITOne easy way to build a simple and effective compostbin is to use four ordinary wooden pallets, and tie themtogether. Many retail outlets will allow you to reclaim thediscarded pallets for use at home. After placing the fourpallets upright to form your square bin, tie the four corners with rope or wire. You can use a fifth pallet forflooring to allow greater air flow. Again cover with an oldcarpet or some other material to keep it dry. Again a second unit would also be helpful with this type of composting.

5. CEMENT BLOCK BINCement blocks or bricks may be used to build a composter. It is easy to set up and can be constructed with two sections to facilitate the turning of the pile, from one section to another.

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HOW DO I COMPOST?

All organic can be divided up into GREENS and BROWNS. GREENS are things like... kitchen waste, such as fruit and vegetable peelings,bread, pasta, rice, coffee grounds, cooked and uncooked food scraps (exceptmeat, fish, and chicken), dead leaves, dried grass cuttings, garden weeds.BROWNS are things like... tea bags, paper including egg cartons, toilet paperrolls and cereal boxes, leaves, straw, sawdust and other woody materials.- These materials need to be broken up or shredded.

AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER IS THAT BROWNS ARE DRY, HARD MATERIALS.

GREENS ARE FRESH, SOFT, MOIST MATERIALS.

GREENS provide nitrogen. BROWNS provide carbon. For composting to work properly, you must have both carbon and nitrogen in equal quantities. Begin with a layer of BROWNS - a base of leaves or wood clippings will help aircirculate in your pile, and then add a layer of GREENS. Finish by covering with a layer of BROWNS. As you add to your pile in the weeks and months to come, continue alternating layers of GREENS and BROWNS, always finishing with alayer of BROWNS.

Don’t worry if you don’t have many materials at the beginning. Although acompost pile needs a certain amount of bulk to get working, you will soon beadding lots more material to your pile.

You should not leave kitchen scraps (GREENS), on top

of the pile. It is best to keep these materials buried

inside the compost heap, where they will break

down quicker. That is why you finish with BROWNS

on top of the pile. Just remember that each time

you add some grass clippings and kitchen scraps,

cover them with a layer of BROWNS.

The easiest way to do this is to keep a bag

of leaves or shredded paper near your composter,

or compost heap, and then throw in a few

handfuls each time to cover your GREENS.

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WHAT’S IN from the House

Fruit and vegetable scrapsBaked goods including breadRice and other grainsPastaPaper towels and serviettesTea leaves and bagsCoffee grounds and filtersEgg shells (important source

of calcium for the compost)

Shredded paper (newspaper,

cereal boxes, paper packaging etc.).

WHAT’S OUT from the House

All meat including chickenFish and shell fishBonesFat, grease, oilsAll dairy products including cheeseVacuum cleaner bagsTextilesGlossy print material

WHAT’S IN from the Garden

LeavesGrass cuttingsWeedsPlants and plant cutting (non diseased)

Twigs etc (break into smaller pieces).

WHAT’S OUT from the Garden

Weeds that have gone to seedDiseased plantsLarge branches and rootsDog and cat wastePlants previously sprayed with non-degradable pesticides.

what’s in...what’s out...

Your composter will not give you any problems as long asthe right balance of materials, air and moisture are used.

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HOW DO I USE MY COMPOST?

Compost is ready for use when it has a fine crumbly appearance like soil, and is dark brown in colour.

Compost can be use in a number of ways ...• For houseplants and potting, mix the compost with garden soil.

The recommended ratio is 1 part compost and 8 part top soil because of the very high nitro content.

• Compost can be used as a mulch to suppress weeds.

• It can be used as a soil or lawn top dressing, or seed starting mix.

• Compost tea can be made from steeping compost in a bucket and using the liquid to water and feed plants.

• Use compost when planting trees or shrubs by mixing a bucketful with the soil at the bottom of the planting hole.

SOME OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Activators/AcceleratorsAn accelerator is any substance that will speed up the rate of composting. Someready prepared accelerators are available from gardening centres and hardwareshops. You simply sprinkle it over the composting material each time you add alayer to your pile. Natural accelerators are just as good and much cheaper.Examples of good accelerators are crushed seaweed and manure from horses,cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chicken and pigeons. Never put dog or cat droppingson your compost pile.

WaterIt is important that the composting material is moist. It should generally be aswet as a wrung out sponge. If it dries out, simply add water when required. Iftoo wet, add in some browns to soak up the excess moisture, or if you have itcovered, remove the cover in sunny weather to let some of the liquid evaporate.

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AirTo add air to your compost pile, poke a shovel or a pitchfork into it and turnthe material over. By simply mixing the material up in this way, once every twoweeks or so, you will add air to the pile. This helps to speed up the compostingprocess, and prevents the pile from smelling. It is also important because themicro-organisms and earthworms that do all of the of turning your ‘wastes’ intosuch a valuable resource, need the moisture and air to stay alive and do theirwork.To sum it up, your job is just to add the material, turn (mix up) the pile every

two weeks and keep your pile damp.

WormeriesWorm bins are also an effective way of composting. A number of IrishCompanies supply worms, and they can be added to your Composter. Contactthe Freephone number at the back of this brochure for more information.

COMMON PROBLEMS AND THE SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

Can I compost in Winter?Yes you can. Although your compost heap may look frozen during the winter, it will usually be working in the middle, although at a much slower pace thanduring the summer. Keep adding material to your pile throughout the winter,even if it freezes, it will start composting again with the start of spring, andhopefully warmer weather.

How long does it take to make compost?Compost can be produced in as little as 3 months or it can take as long as twoyears. It depends on how you maintain your heap. If you use roughly equalamounts of GREENS and BROWNS, keep the pile moist, and turn or mix the pileregularly, you can get compost in a few months. A less active maintenance program will result in the same product, but after a longer period of time.

Should I use an accelerator?Accelerators claim to speed up the composting process. Basically they containconcentrated amounts of elements already present in a well-used compost bin.They certainly seem to work but adding a small amount of fresh grass cuttings,nettles or coffee grounds will have the same effect. Perhaps the most readily-available compost accelerator is human urine, but we do not recommend it thistechnique in urban areas!!!

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Can I compost evergreen material?Evergreen material takes a long time to decompose, over five years in somecases. In general they are very acidic and the leaves or needles tend to have analmost rubbery texture. There is no reason not to include them, except for theirslow decomposition. Add in small amounts only.

What should I do if my composter smells?There are two possible reasons as to why you are experiencing this problem.Firstly you may have too many GREENS and not enough BROWNS. If youhaven’t added Browns in a while, put some in. If you don’t have any driedleaves handy, shred some newspaper and mix it in. The most likely problem is that your compost pile may be lacking in oxygen. To fix it, simply turn the material over with a shovel or pitchfork a few times.The smell will be gone in a day or two.

I don’t have much ‘BROWN’ material.The most readily available BROWN materials are newspapers and cardboard. You only need about 10 newspapers a year for each compost bin. It should betorn into strips or as individual sheets rolled into balls before adding it in.About half a tabloid newspaper should be added every couple of weeks or so if no other ‘BROWNS’ are available. Plain brown cardboard can also be used,again make sure it is damp and cut into smaller pieces. Avoid too muchcoloured cardboard as some of the inks can be toxic.

What happens in the compost pile?Your compost pile contains the nitrogen and carbon rich material you have putinto it, as well as a number of different microorganisms, worms and beneficialinsects that live on a diet of these materials. The microorganisms will generate a lot of heat as they do their work, a compost pile regularly heats up to 50 to65 degrees Celsius after new material is put into it. During this process, thematerials are broken down into compost, and this is what you can spread backon your garden.

Will I get animals in my compost pile?Not if you put the correct materials in your pile. No meat, bones, dairy products(including cheese), fatty materials, or oil should be put into your compost pile.These materials break down very slowly, and will attract unwanted pests.Remember all kitchen waste should be covered by BROWNS, (such as driedleaves). Animals are a very rare occurrence in a properly managed compost pile.

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WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO MANAGE MY

WASTE PROPERLY… SHOP CAREFULLY…

RECYCLE MORE… REUSE MORE…

At present there are 85 locations in County Kerry to recycle glass, aluminium drink

cans and more recently steel food cans. There are also 13 locations to recycle Plastic

Bottles in the larger towns throughout Kerry. There are more extensive recycling

facilities at the Transfer Stations which are located near Killarney, Milltown, Kenmare

and Cahersiveen-these include plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines, cardboard,

batteries, waste car oil, white goods and household hazardous waste. Recycling

facilities are also available at the North Kerry Landfill Site.

Waste Cooking Oil can be recycled. There are several private companies who will take

waste cooking oil and recycle it. There is a cost for this service.

Household hazardous waste, such as fluorescent lights, oil paints, pesticides, aerosols,

bleaches etc., can also be recycled at the Transfer Stations.

Printed on Cyclus - 100% Recycled Paper

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FOLLOW THE 10 BASIC STEPS TO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT ...

1. SHOP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ...Avoid over packaged goods, buy goods packaged in recyclable material e.g. glass and aluminium.

2. GET INTO RECYCLING ... There will soon be 60 recycling banks in Co. Kerry, start bringing your glass and drink cansto a bank near you.

3. SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS ...Refuse to take a plastic bag when you do not need one - bring your own canvas orreusable bag. Plastic bags are made of a non-renewable resource and cause serious litterproblems.

4. FOLLOW THIS BOOKLET AND COMPOST YOUR FOOD AND GARDEN WASTE ATHOME AND CUT DOWN ON WASTE GOING TO LANDFILL ...

5. DON’T LITTER AND DON’T TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO ...Litter is a serious environmental problem - we all object to it yet half of us admit to doing it

6. WATER IS LIFE ...We can be careless about the water we use - wasted water is money down the drain.

7. DISPOSE OF WASTE LIQUIDS i.e HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, PAINTS OR WEED KILLERSCORRECTLY ... These products are often hazardous - hazardous to your health and to theenvironment if not disposed of correctly.

8. TAKE THE HEALTHY OPTION ...For short journeys ask yourself do you really need the car. When stopping of at the shopdon’t leave the engine running.

9. TURN DOWN AND SWITCH OFF ...Your heating system uses up the most energy in your home make sure it is well insulatedand draught proof. Turn off lights and televisions when they are not in use.

10. BECOME LABEL CONSCIOUS ...Chose energy labels A or B when buying a new washer dryer fridge or dishwashers - You’ll save energy and money.

10 steps...