Cardboard, paper and grass making up most of compost bin

[SMW]

Hi there,

Unsure if this is in the right place or better suited for the digging around forum.

I have recently bought 2 compost bins and have begun filling one. I have a small amount of food waste from the house (half – full caddy or so a week) and an endless supply of grass from the garden and shredded paper and carboard boxes from work.

I understand the principles of layering the bin and know to layer grass thinly but my question is this. If my compost bin consists of 90% grass,cardboard and paper with the additional 10% made up of fruit and veg waste, will the compost still have good nutrients? It will take me to next year to fill the bin if I just use household green waste.

Thanks

S

[Jay-ell]

It will be full of organic material which will hold onto the moisture and nutrients that are there. This will build up the quality of the soil and improve the environment for the micro fauna. The nutrients in compost don't last too long anyway no matter what the composition of the compost as they get used up, leatched away etc but the humus that builds up from any organic matter will improve the soil.

If you haven't got anything else just use what you have

[Mitzi]

It might not heat up as effectively and take longer to rot down but it will still be worth doing. I'm told (haven't tried it) that peeing on it can help. (Sorry!)

I have been known to hang about the fruit & veg stall in the market late in the day and get all their discarded cabbage leaves, squashed fruit etc. when trying to fill a compost bin quickly.

[ESBkevin]

Yes the mixture ratios can be tweaked to get optimum breakdown but in the end everything organic will break down. You will have a decent mixture of 'greens and browns' with some fruit and veg waste added. Turning the mass every couple of weeks (particularly when it's in the early stages of decomposing) speeds things up and prevents the grass clippings going slimmy and matted.
Few of us have reserves of the right sort to mix correctly as we go so bunging it all in and the occasional stir to add more air and mix it up is what works for me. The warmer weather also speeds things up as does some urine which is high in nitrogen (but not too much too often as it will smell). Other things that help add nutrients and accelerate composting are nettles (before they flower so you don't add seeds). Autumn leaves are also a great resource to mix in if you bag um as you go.

[burnie]

Pee is an excellent accelerator, but it might be an idea to collect it in a bottle, rather than hovering over the compost bin lol.
Also make sure your contents aren't too dry as it won't compost properly and may encourage mice or rats.

[SMW]

Thanks guys, I will keep goings as I have been then. My second bin will probably have more diverse items as I hope to be filling that with all the summer greens.

[Owamya]

I got told off for peeing into my compost bin.. but I was standing on top of my shed....