Ways to be more environmentally conscious

   

 

Hello our eco-friends !

Below you can find information about composting and the way you can do home composting.
It's simple, natural and inexpensive.

It's easy to make and use; good for the environment and a perfect way to reduce landfill waste.

  

Composting is the process where waste products / yard debris / food scraps are recycled (break down) and produce an organic material rich in nutrients, making it an ideal plants and soil fertilizer, as well as pesticide for soil.

It's the natural process that transforms your daily waste from kitchen and yard, into a nutrient rich food for your garden.

In fact, it’s nature’s perfect amendment and can be added to the soil any time of year without polluting the water or burning the plants.

 

COMPOSTING in CYPRUS

In Cyprus, a pilot home composting program was agreed [July 2019] to start in few communities of Nicosia:

Agia Eirini Kannavion Agiou Georgiou Kaukalou Agias Marinas Xyliatou
Astromeriti Vyzakias Kannavion
Kato Monis Koutrafa Nikitariou
Peristeronas Xyliatou Orountas Potami

In addition, Limassol municipality will set in place a new program which concerns the establishment of autonomous composters.

 

COMPOSTING BASICS

Any type of composting requires 4 basic ingredients:

  • Carbon organic material (BROWN materials) - for energy

  • Nitrogen organic material (GREEN materials) - to grow and reproduce more organisms to oxidize the carbon

  • Water - provides moisture to help break down the organic matter.

  • Oxygen - for oxidizing the carbon (decomposition process)

You must try to have a balance of 50% nitrogen and 50% carbons to get a healthy mix.

 
The Carbon category (BROWN) includes materials that rot quickly.
The Nitrogen category (GREEN) includes materials that rot slowly.

 

 

Egg shells do not contribute either nitrogen or carbon, but will decompose and that's why can be used as composting material.

 

WHAT NOT TO COMPOST

Any organic matter can be composted, but there are some things that are usually suggested to avoid.

Those materials might contain substances harmful to plants, might kill beneficial composting organisms or even attract pests (flies, rodents).

You can check with your local composting/recycling coordinator if these organics are accepted by your community composting program.
Of course, there are composters designed specifically to accept few of those materials.
  

 

 

HOW TO COMPOST AT HOME

We have few options for methods of home composting depending on the materials we need to break down.

All compost piles need some amount of moisture and will benefit from occasional rotation. The complete information is rather extensive, but here we will share a simple overview:

The first decision you need to take is whether or not to use a fully enclosed compost bin/container for home composting. Although bins aren't necessary, they do have their upsides for collecting kitchen waste and yard waste.

  1. Start your compost pile. Either on a side on bare soil or in the bin of your choice. 
  2. Add compost materials in layers. A 50/50 mix of greens and browns is the perfect recipe for good compost. Keep on adding greens and browns to top up your compost.
  3. Keep your compost moist. Add a bit of water occasionally, or just let rain do the job. Covering your compost helps also retain moisture and heat (two essentials for compost) and prevents the compost from being over-watered by rain since it should not be soaked.
  4. Turn/Mix your pile. Oxygen is required for the process to work. Mixing or turning the compost pile, “adds” oxygen to it and speeds up the process to completion. If you want to add new materials into your compost pile, just mix them in instead of adding them in layers.
  5. Ready for use. Once your compost has turned into a dark, moist soil and gives off an earth-smelling, you know it's ready to use. It may take from 3 to 6 months to be ready.

 

COMMON COMPOST PROBLEMS and HOW TO FIX THEM

My compost pile is smelly
When your compost pile begins to smell bad (stinks), it means you have more nitrogen material. Use a pitchfork and break the clump of that material and add some brown material (carbon).

 

Non-Compostable items were added (fish, meat, dairy..)
If possible, remove those items. If you cannot remove them, then just turn those stuff over and cover them with brown material (carbon) until it breaks down.

 

My compost pile is too wet
All you have to do is to add some brown material (carbon) and turn/mix your pile to allow oxygen to circulate.

           

 

                                     

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