Can all kitchen waste be composted?
Any organic material can be composted although to help the process along it is best not to put large pieces of material in to your composter as the microbes need as much surface area as possible to compost most effectively. Even fish bones will compost thoroughly as will smaller chicken bones especially if they are crushed first and left to compost for long enough. Larger bones will be cleaned of any traces of meat, so they will not be attractive to vermin.
Left over corn cobs are also notoriously difficult to compost in a short time period, so again it is best to chop these up into small pieces for composting.
Finally, it is best to drain excess water from soups or stews.
Can I use paper and cardboard instead of wood pellets?
Yes you can, as long as you are content to spend some time shredding. Paper needs to be cross shredded, otherwise it bunches up in the machine. Cardboard must be cut into very small pieces and you need a lot of either to have an effective carbon source. It is usually best to treat these materials as a supplement rather than a substitution.
Can I use pet litter?
If you are already a cat owner, you can buy biodegradable untreated wood based litter which will do the job. Rabbit and guinea-pig bedding can also be used but be aware that bedding based on wood shavings is not ideal for hot composting as there is not enough time for the wood to fully decompose and the shavings are not as absorbent as wood pellets or sawdust.
Is all garden waste suitable for quick composting?
You can put any green vegetation in your composter although it is best to avoid woody twigs and stems as these take too long to compost in the time available. It is best to shred this material and use it as a mulch which is also useful as a method of weed control.
Gardens that produce larger quantities of material are likely to have the space to use more conventional means of composting and would probably be best suited to a range of composting systems to meet their needs in addition to the JK composter.
What about weeds?
The big advantage of hot composting is that the heat generated by using the machine kills seeds as the material in the JK125/270 can reach temperatures as high as 70 degrees C. The only common seeds that seem to be able to survive are tomato seeds.
Where should I keep my JK125/270?
Your machine comes complete with its own stand and brackets to hang it on a suitable wall. The JK270 can weigh as much as a large motorcycle when full i.e. 250Kg, so you need to ensure the wall you mount it on is sufficiently strong. An ordinary garden shed will not take the weight. The machine should be attached to a solid brick or block wall with rawlbolts. Do not use ordinary plugs and screws. If in doubt stand it on a firm surface such as concrete or paving to ensure it does not sink into the ground.
