Garden waste bins are ideal for organic materials such as grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, leaves, weeds and flowers. But did you know many other household items can also be composted?
Read on for five unexpected things you can pop in your garden waste bins – as well as one surprising item you can't...
Herbs and herbaceous houseplants
If you're one of those people who buy supermarket herbs only to use half and see the rest wilt and die, don't worry. You can add unpotted mint and basil to bins, along with any houseplants that have also failed to thrive.
Pet or human hair
If you dabble in home hairdressing but don't know what to do with the trimmings, fear not. Hair off-cuts are nitrogen-rich and can be added to your garden waste where they'll break down slowly, feeding soil microbes in the process. As always, check your local council's advice first.
Wooden plant labels or seedling trays
If made from untreated wood – not painted, varnished or coated in plastic – these can be broken down and added to your garden waste bin.
Natural cork
As long as the cork from your wine bottle is 100 per cent natural, it can be recycled, too. Natural cork will typically have small, uneven holes or grain patterns, feel spongy and slightly rough and spring back into shape if you compress it.
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Sawdust and wood shavings
Got a DIY project on the go? Add sawdust and shavings from untreated, unpainted wood to your waste bin – where it will be an excellent carbon-rich material for composting.
One thing you shouldn't put in garden waste bins
Soil
This ubiquitous garden material is not considered ‘green waste’ as it contains very little organic matter and doesn’t decompose as other plants do.
'It's one of the most common mistakes we see,' a representative from My Home Improvements recently told The Mirror. 'Soil might look natural, but it causes major issues for councils trying to turn garden waste into compost. Even a little bit can ruin a whole batch.
'Garden bins are not a catch-all for anything green. What feels natural to toss may be harmful to the environment, your community, or the composting process.'
What's more, from 2026, the Labour government will be introducing a £400 fine for people introducing soil into their garden waste bins. Avoid this by shaking soil off plant roots before binning them (you can reuse soil by mixing it with compost), using a soil sieve or cutting off roots completely with secateurs, shears or a trowel.
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Our favourite celebrity gardeners
David Beckham
David Beckham is a dedicated gardener at his Cotswolds home, where he tends to a large vegetable patch and enjoys harvesting produce like carrots, courgettes and onions himself.
You can follow all of his green-fingered projects over on his Instagram, and his wife Victoria Beckham frequently shares updates on her Stories, too.
Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley is not only a celebrated broadcaster but also a passionate gardener. She has spoken about the joy she finds in her garden, particularly in creating naturalistic planting schemes and encouraging wildlife – and she has even collaborated on several RHS garden over the years.
Follow her on Instagram for the occasional tour of her garden.
Kate Moss
In 2022, former supermodel Kate Moss left the hustle and bustle of London behind and permanently relocated to her Cotswolds home in Little Faringdon, where she reportedly grows her own veg. More of a secret gardener, Kate doesn't post about her green activity, but you can find numerous photos of her countryside plot online.
Will Young
Pop Idol's first-ever winner, Will Young, is not just passionate about singing. His garden makes a frequent appearance on his Instagram feed and he has spoken about how spending time surrounded by greenery helps him 'deal with his PTSD'.
Stacey Solomon
When Stacey Solomon doesn't look glamorous on TV, she is an avid hobby gardener, who says growing her own vegetables and keeping chickens 'feed her soul'. On her Instagram, you'll find countless photos shared from her garden, whether it's Stacey beaming next to her homegrown brassicas or cuddling her toddlers among daffodils.
Jim Carter
The Downton Abbey actor discovered his love of gardening during the pandemic, when he and his wife Imelda Staunton spent all of their time outside. In 2023, Jim campaigned for gardening and horticulture to be added to the national curriculum, saying 'Children need to put their phones away and get out into the garden.'
