Guide to Composting: Turning Waste into Wellness
At Gardening Well, we see composting as more than a way to manage waste—it’s a quiet revolution. Every peel, leaf, and coffee ground you compost is a small act of climate action, soil restoration, and circular thinking. Whether you’re working with a garden, a balcony, or a schoolyard, composting is one of the most powerful tools you have.
This guide walks you through the essentials of composting in Ireland—from choosing a bin to balancing your browns and greens. It’s practical, peat-free, and rooted in the same ethos that guides all our growing: care for the earth, and care for each other.
1. Why Compost?
Roughly 30–40% of household waste in Ireland is organic material that could be composted. When sent to landfill, this waste breaks down anaerobically, releasing methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Composting at home or in your community:
- Reduces landfill waste and emissions
- Creates nutrient-rich compost for your soil
- Supports biodiversity and soil health
- Closes the loop between kitchen, garden, and climate
2. Choosing Your Composting Method
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Choose a system that suits your space and lifestyle:
- Compost bins: Ideal for gardens. Available in plastic, wood, or DIY formats. Look for a model with good ventilation and a lid.
- Compost tumblers: Great for faster composting and smaller spaces. Easy to turn and manage.
- Wormeries (vermicomposting): Perfect for patios, balconies, or classrooms. Worms break down food waste into rich castings.
- Community composting: Some neighbourhoods and schools share bins or hubs. A great way to build connection and reduce waste together.
3. What to Compost
Composting is all about balance. You need a mix of:
- Greens (Nitrogen-rich): Vegetable peels, fruit scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, tea bags (plastic-free)
- Browns (Carbon-rich): Dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, straw, sawdust (untreated)
A good rule of thumb is a 3:1 ratio—three parts browns to one part greens. This keeps your compost aerated, odour-free, and breaking down efficiently.
4. What to Avoid
Some items don’t belong in a home compost bin:
- Meat, dairy, and oily foods (attract pests and slow decomposition)
- Glossy or coated paper
- Pet waste
- Weeds with seeds or invasive roots
When in doubt, leave it out—or check with your local council’s composting guidelines.
5. Building Your Compost
Start with a layer of browns at the bottom for drainage. Then alternate layers of greens and browns. Chop or shred materials where possible to speed things up. Keep the pile moist—like a wrung-out sponge—and turn it every few weeks to add oxygen.
In a few months (or faster with a tumbler), you’ll have dark, crumbly compost that smells like woodland soil. That’s your garden gold.
6. Using Your Compost
Finished compost can be used to:
- Top-dress vegetable beds and flower borders
- Enrich potting mixes
- Mulch around trees and shrubs
- Feed tired soil in raised beds or containers
It’s especially powerful when paired with peat-free compost and no-dig soil strategies.
7. Composting in Small Spaces
No garden? No problem. Balcony composting, wormeries, and countertop bokashi systems all work well in urban homes. You can also team up with neighbours or join a local composting hub.
We’re working to map and support community composting across Meath and beyond. If you’re interested in starting one, get in touch.
Conclusion
Composting is a quiet kind of magic. It turns waste into life, and decay into growth. It’s one of the simplest ways to take climate action from your own back garden—and one of the most satisfying.
Whether you’re just starting or already composting with confidence, we’re here to help you grow. Let’s keep the cycle turning.