Beginning composting

[Gertrude's Ghost]

I have ordered a dalek type compost bin and have been reading up on greens and browns The greens we get are mainly weeds, grass cuttings, cut flowers and prunings, but we (deliberately) don't generate much food waste so I'm worried I might not get a balance. We do, however, get loads of junk mail etc which at present goes in the recycling. Any tips would be very welcome.

[mrbadexample]

I don't worry too much about greens and browns. I just try not to put loads of the same thing in at once. When I mow the lawn I mix shredded paper (I use anything that's not shiny, so junk mail is mostly out, unfortunately) in with the clippings to mix it up a bit. If you shred a load of tree prunings or similar, just don't put it all in at once - put some in then wait until you've put plenty of other stuff in before adding some more.

Cut things as small as you can, and turn it as often as you can. It'll be fine.

[Gertrude's Ghost]

Thanks, that's very helpful - we beginners do tend to take things far too seriously,but not sure I should be taking advice from mrbadexample!

[mrbadexample]

I think you can trust me. Just this once.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet;"

[bearded bloke]

I can attest to the quality of MBE's compost

[veggiechicken]

I keep one of those cheapo paper shredders near the recycling bin in the kitchen.
Any odd bits of paper that aren't shiny (envelopes, toilet roll tubes, food packaging, receipts etc) is shredded as soon as I find it. This goes in a kitchen bin, with any veg peelings (wrapped in newspaper), and its all added to the compost bin. Its surprising how quickly paper waste builds up!!

[Two_Sheds]

The greens we get are mainly weeds, grass cuttings, cut flowers and prunings,... loads of junk mail

Stop the junk, for a start. I write "unsolicited, return to sender (or just UNSOLICITED, RTS) on it and put it back in a postbox. It soon stops coming

veg peelings (wrapped in newspaper)

... is the easiest way to get your correct mix.

You MUST put browns in the mix, or your compost will go slimy and smelly

[bearded bloke]

I think I read somewhere on here that a good way to add "browns" is to put cardboard through a garden shredder ?

[Gertrude's Ghost]

What's the problem with composting glossy paper? A lot of our junk mail is from companies we have bought from in the past (and might in the future) so I don't think I would send stuff back. Helps the local authority meet its recycling targets, too.

[Scott Hogg]

Autumn is great to get those dying leaves thrown in the composter to get the brown side of the mix.

[veggiechicken]

What's the problem with composting glossy paper? A lot of our junk mail is from companies we have bought from in the past (and might in the future) so I don't think I would send stuff back. Helps the local authority meet its recycling targets, too.

This might help explain it Can I Compost Leaflets and junk mail? | Can I Compost This?

[Gertrude's Ghost]

This might help explain it Can I Compost Leaflets and junk mail? | Can I Compost This?

Thanks. I'll keep putting the stuff in the ecycling then.

[Two_Sheds]

Autumn is great to get those dying leaves thrown in the composter to get the brown side of the mix.

they really slow down the heap, because they don't rot down in the same way (aerobically). Leaves are best separated into their own heap, or into black plastic sacks