DAY 12: 12 Days of HOTBIN Composting Christmas Tips

DAY 12: Let's add Composting to our New Year's Resolutions!

The new year is the time for a new leaf!  Here are a few potential composting goals resolutions for you to consider in the new year. 

1. Reduce or Recycle Your Food Waste
   How much food do you waste every year? Hopefully you will have a good idea of just how much food waste can be diverted from landfill if you have been reading all of our 12 days of HOTBIN Christmas posts. In the USA, 4.2 million festive dinners are thrown away each year.

So, let’s fight waste by being more food savvy and recycling more types of food waste into reusable compost. Everything from garden waste to food waste can go into the HOTBIN, and when operating at the hotter temperatures of 104-140°F you can even put in cooked food waste, bones and pet waste. 

2. Use Your Small Indoor Food container/caddy.
   Whether you are collecting waste for your own composting or for the community, food caddies are a great way to store up food waste. Use the container/caddy as a carrier for taking waste out to your HOTBIN and as a gauge for keeping track of how much waste you are putting in. It can also help with gauging how much bulking agent (mulch) and shredded paper needs to be added with the waste.

HOTBIN should be fed a typical 11 lbs. container twice a week and add roughly:

• Bulking agent (mulch): 1-2 handfuls (Ratios of 5:1)
• Shredded paper 2-3 handfuls (Ratios of 2:1) 

3. Useful tips

• Mix the shredded paper and bulking agent (mulch) direct into your container/caddy as you add waste.
• Empty and clean your food container/caddy once a week to prevent it going smelly and attracting flies.
• Line walls with kitchen paper and sprinkle shredded paper in the bottom of the container/caddy.
• Stockpile bulking agent (mulch) and shredded paper.
• Ensure you have a supply of bulking agent (mulch) – without this the HOTBIN will lack aeration and will stop working. Buy plenty in advance or be sure to stockpile your own using a chipper. Keep it as dry as possible too for maximum effectiveness!
• Shredded paper is used to control moisture levels in the HOTBIN. Too wet and the waste will become a cold soggy and potentially smelly mush, so make use of paper shredding’s by bagging and storing for when you need them.
• Keep (if you can) easy to digest waste readily available for the HOTBIN and provide a much-needed heat boost as the weather cools down.

4. Grow Your Own Compost
   HOTBIN produces rich compost in just 90 days, if you are not already why not use this lovely compost as a base to start growing your own vegetables? No matter how much space you have there are numerous options to start growing your own compost. Raised beds are an excellent way to begin and you can start with a few easy things like carrots, herbs, onions and salad leaves.

 After all, nothing tastes better than home grown vegetables and salads! 

5. Keep it Clean and Organised

 
So let’s make 'to waste less and compost more' our New Year's Resolution!

CLICK to view all 12 Days of Composting Tips.