Successful composting is like making a cake or better still, a lasagne – in layers. The recipe must be followed carefully or you will end up with a smelly slime, which although rich in nutrients is not pleasant to garden with. Don’t get too hung up on the exact recipe though as decomposition is a natural process and will happen anyway.
Before adding anything to your composter ask yourself is it bio-degradable, will it contribute to a high quality, nutrient rich compost and is it free of any harmful chemicals, toxins, disease or other contaminants?
If you are not sure the answer is yes to any of these questions, then it is better not to add it to your composter.
The six essential ingredients for high quality compost are carbon which is provided by brown waste such as bark, straw, paper, and leaves, nitrogen from grass, microbes such as worms, water, oxygen and heat.