Composting at home

You can recycle waste including:

• eggshells and egg boxes
• raw fruit and vegetable scraps
• teabags, coffee grounds and coffee filters
• small amounts of garden waste (such as prunings and weeds)
• flowers and plants
• small amounts of sawdust and shredded paper

You cannot compost:

• animal waste
• dairy products
• diseased or poisonous plants
• nappies
• meat, fish or bones

If you have a garden, or access to a community garden, we can provide you with a discounted compost bin from as little as £10. 

Order one from Get Composting (opens in a new tab). 

You'll also get a composting manual and access to a composting helpline.

Home compost bins come in 2 sizes: 

• the 220 litre bin is 90cm tall with a 74cm base diameter
• the 330 litre bin is 100cm tall with a 80cm base diameter

It comes with a ventilated kitchen caddy which can hold 5 litres of organic kitchen waste. You can then empty the caddy into your compost bin.

You can use biodegradable or compostable liners in your caddy to keep it clean. Available at supermarkets. 

Alternatively, you can use newspaper that will soak up moisture and decompose easily. 

Avoid using plastic bags inside the caddy since you cannot put these into the home compost bin.

Community and other groups can apply for up to 2 free compost bins by emailing environment@southwark.gov.uk with:

• the organisation name
• whether it’s a school, place of worship or other type of community group
• the organisation’s address

We'll confirm your request and arrange a date and time for you to collect the compost bins from the Southwark Reuse and Recycling Centre.