What you can compost

There are two types of organic material you can use in composting - greens and browns.

Green materials have lots of nitrogen and include:

• Fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags. However, don't put meat or dairy products in unless your compost system is designed to cope with the pests they can attract
• Grass clippings, so long as they haven't been sprayed with weedkiller
• Weeds - but be choosy. Don't compost invasive weeds like oxalis, onion grass and convolvulus. They won't break down in lower temperature piles so you need to take them to a commercial composting plant instead
• Grass and tree clippings and leaves can make compost or act as mulch around plants to help retain soil moisture.

Brown materials have lots of carbon and include:

• Sawdust but not from treated wood used for fence posts or framing
• Shredded paper including tissues, pizza boxes and egg cartons (soak them in water first).
• Straw
• Vacuum cleaner dust.