What is compost?
Food and garden waste, once land-filled, break down anaerobically to produce both methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times as powerful as carbon dioxide, and leachate, a toxic liquid which can contaminate ground water supplies.
Compost is the finished product of a process that involves the breakdown of organic material by micro- and macro-organisms.
In the right conditions, with the right mix, anything that once lived can be turned into an earth-like substance that will provide vital nutrients back to the soil. Not only that, but the compost heap - or pile, or bin - plays host to a tremendous eco-system which, by virtue of existing towards the bottom of the food chain, can play a vital role in support wildlife in your garden.
Click here for a vivid and entertaining demonstration of how what goes on in a compost bin.