How much bulking agent is required?

Bulking Agent Ratios

Bulking agent is required to improve heap areation, there is a chimney effect as air and oxygen rises through the air pockets created by the bulking agent.

When composting mainly food waste its reccomended that you add ⅕ of the amount of waste in bulking agent (1 part bulking agent to 5 parts waste).

This table gives you a rough idea of what that translates to:

Note: The amount of bulking agent that needs adding will depend on the waste mix going into the bin. If other woody waste is being added from the garden, then less bulking agent will be required.

Do I need to add bulking agent if using paper?

Yes, ALWAYS add bulking agent with food waste. The bulking agent will form a supportive structure that maintains airflow.

Remember: In hot composting, paper fixes wetness and wood chip helps aeration. You cannot balance ‘wet waste’ by adding wood chip bulking agent, nor can you fix ‘poor aeration’ by adding paper.