Composting is a biological process. The fertiliser that is the end result of composting can only be as good as the ingredients you added initially. The first list below contains the ideal ingredients, the second those you are better off leaving out:

Ideal Ingredients:

• Raw vegetable peelings and fruit
• Egg shells (crushed)
• Tea, tea bags or coffee granules
• Shredded paper or soft card
• Straw or hay (chopped and moist)
• Grass cuttings, plant trimmings and flowers
• Hair and fur
• Small amounts of leaves
• Chicken, pigeon or horse manure
• Animal bedding

Ingredients to avoid:

• Meat or fish (cooked or raw)
• Cooked or baked foods
• Dairy products
• Persistent weeds
• Coal ash
• Dog or cat mess
• Nappies or used tissue
• Coloured or shiny paper