How do I stop my organic waste bin getting icky?

[AutumnWitch]

Our council collects pretty much all our waste and we have a green bin that takes fruit/veg waste, cooked food scraps and most garden waste and is collected once a fortnight.

We do a lot of cooking and produce a lot of peelings etc. not everything leaves the bin when it's emptied and the high moisture content makes for a pretty nasty substance at the bottom of the bin.

We used to have a bin cleaning company that came round once a month and made the problem go away, but they've disappeared.

Not really got anywhere suitable for a compost heap and had bad experiences with closed compost bins.

I would love some ideas as to how to stop the bin getting in such a state and to make sure stuff doesn't get stuck in it.
Or will I be donning a hazchem suit and pitching in with spade and hose?

Are you allowed to use those compostable 'plastic' bags? Or you can get paper/cardboard bags, too, that are compostable - could cut down on it a bit, but the bags are only small, so you might get through a few.

\link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/Botanico-Biodegradable-Compost-Bin-Liners/dp/B0011EV13E\This sort of thing} or the
\link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001RH1UG8/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0011EV13E&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0PQRVFWVNKR2RFX4EBQN\Paper ones}

And obviously you'd only use them for food waste - not the garden waste!

Thanks - unfortunately we're not allowed biodegradable bags.

Yes, those paper ones would help, but as you say, they're tiny - we'd be using one a day.

I should try and source some bigger ones.

Maybe I should start experimenting with different layers of material

Pity we're not allowed cardboard any more, it goes another route now.

Shame about the no biodegradable bags. But yes, maybe if you make sure you always have a layer of something like twigs/dry leaves in the bottom, it'll help stop the food sticking.

We're told to wrap our scraps in newspaper. Are you allowed to do that? It stops some of the smell too.

was also going to suggest layering with newspaper at the bottom, when emptied just swirl bin out with hot soapy water with a bit of bleach in, should keep if fresh.

No newspaper either - it gets collected separately. Our council takes it's recycling very seriously.

I've got a pile of twiggy prunings though. I'll give it a good clean after it's been emptied today and try those. Thanks

We save our cardboard boxes (cereal, tissues etc) and put our food waste into them before putting in the green bin. We can recycle cardboard separately, and I know the council prefer that, but given that for me it's a choice between putting food waste in cardboard and it in the black bin, I think on balance what we're doing is better!

I'm that they only collect food waste every fortnight!! The food bin must be really minging in hot weather
I also don't understand why you're not allowed to use compostable bags or newspaper. Can you double check that with your council?
Failing that I'd try to find somewhere cool and shady to keep the bin - is almost be tempted to put the waste food in an old ice cream tub in the freezer between collections to keep rotting food to a minimum

I'd almost, not is. Obviously

Daisy, that's what we used to do before they changed over to the new system. I've discovered the council sell small (10L) bags for kitchen waste caddies, but we'd be using one almost every day - not a cheap option.

SG - we're not "allowed" to use newspaper because paper has a high value compared to other waster and they don't want to lose it to compost. Fortnightly collections are pretty common now and there are a lot of issues with maggots and flies reported every summer.

So, today DH heroically cleaned out the bin and we've lined the bottom with twigs to stop things sticking. Hopefully a sluice out every time it's emptied will help.

maybe the council will come up with a way of keeping this problem under control

Do you have a hosepipe? Would a quick swill right after emptying sort it? Maybe sling in a few rocks or something and give it a real big shake if it's 'crusty'. Not sure about bleach, not very organic! Must be pretty cool to just have all that stuff collected, what area are you in?

Our council actively tell us to put a layer of cardboard at the bottom to stop having stuff stick to the bottom. Our council also has the highest recycling rates in the UK (or near highest), so I reckon you can follow their instructions!