Composting at home

Order your home compost bin

You can order a home composting bin from us for just £10, including delivery. 

Order a compost bin

Turning your food and garden waste into compost is a great way to support the environment and reduce waste.

You’ll also get free, nutrient-rich food for your garden.

Why compost?

Composting your food and garden waste is a simple, eco-friendly way to: 

• reduce household waste,
• cut down on landfill use, and
• create free, nutrient-rich compost to feed your garden. 

How to use your compost bin

Placement 

Place your bin on bare soil in a sunny spot. 

If placing it on concrete or slabs, add a layer of paper, twigs, or existing compost at the bottom. 

What to compost 

When composting, you should aim for an equal mix of: 

• Greens (rich in nitrogen and moisture): 
  Fruit and vegetable scraps, grass cuttings, weeds, cut flowers 
• Browns (rich in carbon and structure): 
  Twigs, dead leaves, cardboard, shredded paper 

Do not compost: cooked food, meat, fish, or dairy. These should go in your food waste bin. 

Collecting waste

You should use a kitchen caddy or tub to collect food scraps. Empty it regularly into your compost bin or heap.

Composting timelines

• Composting takes 9 to 12 months. 
• Stirring the heap occasionally can speed up the process. 
• Check moisture levels: 
  • Too dry? Add water and more greens. 
  • Too wet? Mix in more browns. 

When is compost ready?

Your compost is ready when it is: 

• dark,
• crumbly, and
• moist like rich soil.

Any large bits not broken down can be returned to the bin for further composting. 

Free compost for community groups and schools

Community gardens, schools and other groups in Belfast can apply for free 1000 litre bulk bags of high-quality compost.

The compost is made by Natural World Products, a local company that processes the food and garden waste we collect from Belfast households, and we’d love to see it going full circle by helping to create a greener city. 

Eligibility

This scheme is for schools, charities and community groups, not individuals or businesses.

• Groups can apply for up to three bags over the year.
• Applicants must be from non-profit organisations.
• Compost is allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
• Delivery is by lorry with a crane to unload the compost, so each group must ensure suitable access to the delivery point. It is each group’s responsibility to ensure the access point is suitable and we have no liability in relation thereto.
• Each group applying for the compost and using same does so at their own risk, and the council shall not be liable for any damage, loss of property or personal injury that may result from using the compost.

Apply

To apply, please email [email protected].

Your email must include:

• your name and contact details, including a phone number,
• the name of your group or organisation, and
• an address and location for compost to be delivered.

Need more help with composting?

Visit RecycleNow (link opens in new window) for a full list of compostable materials and frequently asked questions.

If you have a question, you can email [email protected] for more information.