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Home Composting

Start home composting today! 

 

Where can I get a compost bin?


You can buy a home compost bin for €20.00 at any of the following Public Service Centres and Town Council Offices :

 

  • Carndonagh Public Services Centre - 074 9153900
  • Donegal Town Public Services Centre - 074 9153900
  • Dungloe Public Services Centre - 074 9153900
  • Letterkenny Public Services Centre - 074 9153900
  • Lifford Environment Section - 074 9153900
  • Milford Public Services Centre - 074 9153900

 

Where can I get more information on composting?

 

Download an excellent New Compost Booklet here.

 

For lots more information on composting visit Stop Food Waste for more great tips or  call Suzanne Bogan, Waste Awareness Officer, Donegal County Council  Tel : (074) 91 53900 or email: [email protected]

 

What can I put in my compost bin?

 

The following is a list of waste materials from your home and garden that can be added to a compost bin. You must make sure that you add a mixture of both the Green (G) and Brown (B) Materials. 

 

Material
OK?
Comments
Tea Leaves/ Bags (G) and Coffee Grounds (B)
Yes
Squeeze excess water from tea bags.
 
Coffee filter can be added
Egg Shells (B)
Yes

 

Wash
and Crush
Kitchen Waste i.e. uncooked vegetables, peelings, skins and fruit etc (G)
Yes
 
Shredded Newspapers and soft cardboard (B)
Yes
Don’t use large quantities at once. Mix with fruit, vegetable or grass
Wood/Peat ashes (B)
Yes
Do not add these ashes if firelighters were used to start fire
Cut/Dead Flowers (G)
Yes
 
Pet/Human Hair (B)
Yes
 
Vacuum/Hoover Bag Contents (B)
Yes
Including paper part of bag
Grass Cuttings (G)
Yes
Do not add large amounts at once. Mix with paper/cardboard
Hedge Clippings / Prunings (B)
Yes
Slow to breakdown. Shred if possible
Old Plants (G)
Yes
Do not add if infected with disease
Weeds/Nettles (G)
Yes
 
Sawdust/Woodchips/Shavings (B)
Yes
Use if compost is too soggy
Pet Manure i.e. rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters (G)
Yes
Animals bedding can also be added
Hay and Straw (B)
Yes
In small amounts
Do Not Add the Following
 
 
Meat/Chicken/ Fish
No
May attract Vermin and Flies
Cooked Kitchen Scraps
No
Contain too much water
Cat/Dog Waste
No
Can contain parasites
Dairy Products
No
May attract vermin or flies
Persistent Weeds
No
Can infect Soil


 

Green Waste

Green Waste

 

Garden waste is biodegradable garden waste like hedge trimmings, lawn clippings, light branches and leaves which is a valuable resource within your garden. Recycling garden waste within the garden is the natural, sustainable option, reducing our impact on global warming and strengthening the soil's capacity to adapt to climate change.

 

  • Garden waste can be recycled in your compost bin or heap with your uncooked fruit and vegetables as well as some paper and cardboard.
  • If you have too much garden waste to compost you can take it to your local Recycling Centre at a cost of €2 per bag.
  • Some waste collectors offer a garden waste service, contact your waste collector for further details.

 

GrassCycling:

 

GrassCycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving grass clippings on the lawn when mowing. Once on the ground the clippings, which contain 80-85% water, decompose quickly returning valuable nutrients like nitrogen back into the soil.

 

GrassCycling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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