Composting is the biological process of decomposing organic matter that allows the transformation of bio-waste into an earth-like product called compost.
The duration of the process depends on the amount of bio-waste used, but it is expected that the compost will be produced in about four to six months.
When joining home composting, you are given a 360-litre home composter measuring 72.5cm X 72.5cm X 100cm, which you must place in an outdoor area, on earth, and preferably in the shade. You must then segregate your bio-waste, place it in the composter, monitor the composting process, and use the compost thus produced in your flowerpots, seedbeds, vegetable gardens or flower gardens. The entire process takes place in your home and under your care.
When joining the community composting programme, you are given a small 10-litre container (size: 29cm high by 20cm wide), and a key to access the community composter.
Then you just have to segregate your bio-waste at home, using the container provided by the project, and place it in the community composter. The compost thus produced is delivered free of charge to anyone who requests it, and shall also be used to fertilize public gardens.
The management of the community composter and the composting process is ensured by a technical team.
Also called organic waste, bio-waste is essentially leftovers from uncooked food (fruit peels and seeds, vegetable leftovers, eggshells, coffee grounds, bread, etc.), and waste from vegetable gardens and flower gardens (leaves, weeds, branches, twigs, grass, etc).
Depending on the moisture content and the proportion of nutrients, bio-waste is divided into green waste and brown waste. Greens have a high moisture content and are rich in nitrogen. Browns have a low moisture content and are rich in carbon. Both of them are essential for the composting process.
The richness of the composting process, and the quality of the compost thus produced depend on the diversity of bio-waste used.
The following can be used for composting:
Fruit peels and seeds
Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Crushed eggshells
Small amounts of bread and cakes
Green leaves
Weeds
Flowers
Freshly cut grass
Nut shells
Dry leaves
Dry grass
Bushes
Branches
Wood shavings and sawdust
Straw
Hay
Because it can attract unwanted animals, you should avoid:
Cooked food leftovers
Meat
Fish
Seafood
Bones
Fish bones
Sauces
Dairy products
Citrus fruits
Not suitable for composting:
Ashes
Cigarette butts
Pet waste
Medicines
Diapers
Biowaste is divided into green waste and brown waste, depending on the moisture content and the proportion of nutrients. Greens have a high moisture content and are rich in nitrogen. Browns have low moisture content and are rich in carbon. They are both essential in the composting process.
Green waste is:
Leftover vegetables and raw vegetables
Fruit peels and seeds
Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Crushed eggshells
Small amount of bread and cakes
Green leaves
Weeds
Flowers
Freshly cut grass
Brown waste is:
Potato peels
Nut shells
Dry leaves
Dry grass
Bushes
Branches
Wood shavings and sawdust
Straw
Hay
Because it can attract unwanted animals, avoid putting the following in the composter:
Cooked food leftovers
Meat
Fish
Seafood
Bones
Fish bones
Sauces
Dairy products
Citrus fruits
Not suitable for composting:
Ashes
Cigarette butts
Pet waste
Medicines
Diapers
The compost from the bio-waste composting process is a natural fertilizer, with an earthy, dark-brown appearance, and has no odour. Because it is rich in nutrients, it improves the soil without any risk to the environment. It can be used instead of chemical fertilizers in flowerpots, seedbeds, vegetable gardens, and flower gardens.
The duration of the process depends on the amount of bio-waste used, but it is expected that compost will be ready in about four to six months.
When ready, compost has an earthy, dark-brown appearance, and no odours. The duration of the composting process depends on the amount of bio-waste used, but it is expected that compost will be ready in about four to six months.
The compost from the bio-waste composting process is a natural fertilizer. Because it is rich in nutrients, it improves the soil without any risk to the environment. It can be used instead of chemical fertilizers in flowerpots, seedbeds, vegetable gardens and flower gardens.
By engaging in composting, you are participating in the recovery of bio-waste, helping reduce the amount of waste produced, reducing the environmental footprint, producing a natural fertilizer, and fostering a circular economy.
The home composter has a capacity of 360 litres, and measures 72.5cm X 72.5cm X 100cm.
The container provided for segregating bio-waste has a capacity of 10 litres, and is approximately 29cm high by 20cm wide.
Yes. Home composters must be placed outdoors, on earth, and preferably in the shade.
If you don’t have an outdoor space at home, you can segregate your bio-waste and join community composting.
Yes. Joining home or community composting implies participating in a composting workshop promoted by RESIALENTEJO in your area of residence.
Home composting is accessible to anyone residing in the municipalities of Barrancos, Beja, Castro Verde, Mértola, Moura, Ourique and Serpa with an outdoor space at home.
Community composting takes place in the municipalities of Barrancos, Beja, Castro Verde, Mértola, Moura and Serpa.
If you have joined the community composting project, you can request the compost free of charge from the Town Council in your area of residence.
The compost produced will be given away free of charge to the members of the community composting project who request it, and will also naturally be used to fertilize public gardens in the areas near the location of the community composters.
The management of community composters is in charge of technical teams set up for this purpose.
Yes. All you need to do is join the project, participate in the composting workshop, and request the container for segregating your bio-waste at home and the key to the community composter where you wish to place your bio-waste.
Yes, to make compost you need to have waste from vegetable gardens and flower gardens. If you can’t get it from friends or neighbours, you can request brown waste free of charge from the Town Council of your area of residence.
No. Joining home or community composting is completely free of charge.
No. If you join home composting, you will be given a home composter. If you join community composting, you will be given a container for segregating your bio-waste at home and a key to the community composter.
Joining the project implies:
taking part in a composting workshop promoted by RESIALENTEJO in your area of residence;
returning the home composter or the community composter container and key in case you withdraw from the project;
. participating in monitoring initiatives, namely by sending regular pictures of your home composting or of placing your bio-waste in the community composter or accepting to be contacted by the project’s technical team.
In case of withdrawal, you must contact RESIALENTEJO and return the equipment provided (home composter or container and key to the community composter).
