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Garden waste and composting

Our garden waste collection service and how to sign up, what can go in a garden waste bin, home composting.

In this section:

Home composting

Home composting is not only for garden waste but also for many other waste items that can enrich your home made compost including:

  • egg shells
  • coffee grounds
  • vegetable peelings
  • shredded paper

Buy a compost bin

We have teamed up with Get Composting to bring you a great deal on compost bins. This year (2026) a:

  • 220 litre bin costs between £11.97 - £14.97
  • 330 litre bin costs between £13.97 - £16.97

The price above includes delivery. You will first be asked to either log in or create an account when you order.

Order now

Make your own compost

On average over a third of all black bin content can be composted which reduces the volume as less waste is sent to landfill. Compost improves soil making it beneficial for growing plants, vegetables and fruit. You can save money as you do not need to buy peat based compost. 

How to compost

You can place your compost bin anywhere that is convenient to you. It can be placed in the sun but it will also work well in the shade. Composting bins are best when sited on soil but will be fine on the concrete, providing there is some drainage.

The most important thing to do is to mix wet materials (greens) with dry materials (browns):

Greens

Greens are the wet, soft materials, including:

  • fresh uncooked fruit and vegetable peelings
  • garden waste (grass, green leaves, soft pruning)
  • egg shells
  • tea bags
  • coffee grounds

Browns

Browns are the dry, harder, absorbent materials. including:

  • bits of cardboard
  • scrunched up or shredded paper
  • loo roll and kitchen towel centres
  • dry leaves
  • small woody prunings
  • wood chipping or sawdust
  • dry plants
  • twigs

Composting is easy and if you get the mixture correct from the start, your composting will just happen and your heap pile will get eaten by the many organisms living in it.

Things to avoid in your compost

Make sure you do not put any of the following in the composting:

  • cooked food (meat, fish, cheese, fats or grease as these can attract unwanted visitors)
  • animal faeces
  • any diseased plants
  • perennial weeds

For more information on how to compost at home, go to: