Council Compost?

[VolesAteMyPeas]

I just heard from my lottie neighbour that the council are giving away free compost next week. We have to go and collect it but it's free. Does anyone have any experience of council's own compost? I believe it's made from the green waste that's collected from our houses. Whilst I would love a massive supply of free compost, I have reservations...

The old fella down the plot won't touch the stuff because he says it killed his harvest one year. Whether this is true or not, I don't know! (He is also sadly suffering from dementia). Also, I can just imagine all the sorts of rubbish some people put in their green waste bins. Will I be finding plastic and glass everywhere afterwards? Presumably the production process has some kind of rubbish removal stage but is it to be trusted?

So does anyone have any stories and tips, good or bad? I'd hate to ruin my lovely plot for the sake of a few bags of compost! Or am I just being overprotective?

[Bigmallly]

I personally thing you are being over cautious. The councils composting site will reach higher temperatures than you or I could get to so any seeds or perennial roots should be destroyed plus they use the compost for their own displays, roundabouts etc. I have bought bags of compost from well known DIY stores that have had bits of twigs, plastic etc so if it was me I'd be in like a shot.

[veggiechicken]

Take it while its offered - wish our Council offered it! Its usually described as soil conditioner, rather than compost, but should be great for bulking up beds and planters.

[rhonsal]

Our local council offers free compost at recycling centres that you bag up yourself - I've taken some a few times but the quality can be a bit hit and miss. Have had some good quality stuff and also at times really bag full of bits of plastic, metal and big chunks of wood. Unfortunately the quality will always depend on what people put in there green waste recycling bin.

Nothing to lose in going and having a look - if it's good grab it and if it's bad then you've not lost anything!

[teakdesk]

Check the council's web-site; in Sheffield they give good details of what happens to the stuff they collect... but they don't give it away for free, unfortunately!

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Thanks for the replies. I've been convinced. I'll grow a test broad bean first though. Just to be sure !

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for the replies. I've been convinced. I'll grow a test broad bean first though. Just to be sure !

That is a test used on horse manure for Aminopyralid.

[WendyC]

My council sells it at about a fiver for a tiny bag! No freebies round here.


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[Catseyes]

We have to pay for ours too. Not sure what goes in your bins but in with our garden waste, goes our good waste which includes meat... Not sure if this is ok for food growers use? I know that it goes to a much higher temp than our composts but is that ok?


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[Peppermint]

Our council has it at the recycling centre ready to bag yourself (for free). It's classed as soil improver. I put some in one of our beds this year and had one of our best onion crops ever.

[dim]

It's free in Cambridge (Amey Cespa in Waterbeach) .... I have used for many of my clients, and it's great for improving drainage in clay soils. On my own lawns (which I seeded), I added 6 inches of soil conditioner to the surface before rotivating, then seeding

It is made to PAS 100 specifications. Here is more info:

Free Compost Collection

Composting

[Kristen]

That is a test used on horse manure for Aminopyralid.

Same stuff (Clopyralid) is in selective lawn herbicides like Verdone Plus, and that has the specific instruction that it must not be put in council composting bins - but I don't suppose everyone reads that

[dim]

Same stuff (Clopyralid) is in selective lawn herbicides like Verdone Plus, and that has the specific instruction that it must not be put in council composting bins - but I don't suppose everyone reads that

sad thing Kristen, is that I have suspisions that much of the bagged compost that people buy from garden centres has loads of council soil conditioner

I 'think' that they buy it (or get it free) from compost reccycle centres, then rebag it

I have checked loads of compost in bags at my local garden centre .... they always have an open bag of each compost on display, and many look like the soil conditioner from the recycle centres

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Oh no, you're stoking my irrational fears again! I was all for it tomorrow.

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Bigmally, my biggest fear is pesticide contamination via any route hence the bean test. As Kristen says, I can imagine it would easily enter council produced compost and I suspect the story of my old neighbour's harvest being ruined is a case of pesticide residue.