• Videopresentation
• PowerPoint Presentation

FAQ

Q - Can I really compost all my kitchen waste? What about bones?

A - Yes, you can really compost all organic waste (although watery soups and stews need to be drained first). You can put in things such as fish bones, chicken carcasses and other bones. The fish bones will compost thoroughly and disappear. The chicken and larger meat bones will come out cleaned of any traces of meat (and will not be attractive to pets or vermin). Smaller chicken bones (e.g. ribs) will compost if they are in for a sufficiently long time.

Q - What Can I Compost?

Q - Where can I buy sawdust?

A - Fine cut up and dry sawdust is to be used in JK composters, it is normally available with saw mills or wood cutters, they can easily be bought from saw dust supplier.

Wood pellets can also be used alternatively, they are normally available from a solid fuel stove supplier (they are the latest ‘carbon neutral' energy source for stoves and boilers)

Q - Is there anything else I can use apart from sawdust/wood pellets?

A - Coir (coconut fibre) works well.

Q - Can I use cardboard or shredded paper instead of wood pellets/sawdust?

A - In theory, yes, but paper needs to be cross-shredded otherwise it bunches up in the composter and forms a ball. Cardboard is more of a problem as it needs to be cut up into small pieces by hand. You also need a considerable amount, so it's better to consider this as a supplement, not a substitution.

Q - What about garden waste? Can I put this in?

A - You can put in any vegetation, except hard, woody stems and branches – these don't have enough time to compost down, even if shredded. For this reason we don't recommend wood chips in place of wood pellets or sawdust.

Q - If I put my garden weeds in, will it kill off the seeds?

A - The only common seeds that seem to be indestructible are tomato seeds. The heat generated in the composter will destroy all other seeds.

Q - Can I put my grass cuttings in?

A - Yes – but if you produce a large amount on a regular basis you will fill the composter in no time and have no room for your kitchen waste!

Q - How often do I need to turn the composter?

A - Every time you put waste into the composter - that's all.

Q – What is the capacity and dimension of Composters?

A-                                                            

Q - Does the composter come complete with brackets to hang it on the wall?

A – Yes, the wall stand is standard and including in the box. We also have a high stand as an option to place on ground. The bottom of the composter will then be 60 cm above the ground.

The composters are very heavy when full – for example the JK270 will weight around 250kg. You can concrete in a couple of 150mm x 150mm posts to attach it to or attach the unit to a solid brick or block wall with raw bolts or similar - DO NOT USE ORDINARY PLUGS AND SCREWS. If in doubt, buy the high stand instead and put the composter on the ground.

Q - If I don't want to hang it on a wall, does it need to be on a firm base?

A - Yes – the legs should stand on planks, slabs or concrete, otherwise when full it will sink into the ground.

Q - Does the compost process produce any liquid?

A - Yes, some liquid production is unavoidable and the composters are not 100% watertight. Moisture content of the mixture is regulated by the wood pellets/sawdust. It is important to drain your wet kitchen waste of any excess liquid before you put it into the compost.