Green Waste

Activity – Build a Compost Heap

You will need

• Organic kitchen waste (fruit/vegetable waste, used tea bags from the staff room)
• Organic waste from the school grounds (grass cuttings and weeds)
• A Nitrogen ‘activator’ is not essential but will speed up the process and can be bought from garden centres
• Soil
• Water
• Wooden planks of the same length and 4 wooden posts
• Hammer and nails
• Old carpet or plastic sheeting

What to do

• Find a suitable location for your Compost heap – preferably on bare soil or grass so worms can enter
• Securely place 4 corner posts in the ground and use the planks to make the sides of the container leaving ventilation gaps
• Line the bottom with twigs and sticks then add alternate layers of garden waste, kitchen waste, Nitrogen activator and soil
• Keep the layers moist by adding water as necessary
• When the heap is about 1.5 m high lay the old carpet/plastic sheeting on top.  This will keep heat in and speed up the composting process
• Leave the heap for 5 – 6 months checking occasionally to make sure it is damp
• It is a good idea to have 2 heaps going at the same time so there is always one you can add your Waste to
• This mineral rich compost can be added to your school garden, borders, tubs and containers to help your plants thrive
• The worms and other organisms in the compost will enhance the biodiversity of your school grounds when added to the soil
• Compost heaps encourage a range of wildlife including hedgehogs