SYMPTOMS                   PROBLEMS                      SOLUTIONS

Compost has a bad smell

Not enough air / too compacted / too much green material

Turn the pile and add browns

Too much water

Decrease watering; protect from heavy rain if no lid; turn pile and add browns

Meat, dairy, fish etc. in pile

Leave them out, turn pile and add browns

Centre of pile is dry

Not enough water

Moisten and turn pile

Pile has slumped and seems slimy

Too much green material

Turn pile adding lots of browns

Lots of fruit flies

Exposed kitchen scraps

Cover kitchen scraps with leaves, grass or a sheet of newspaper

Attracts rats

Food available

Do not put meat, fish or dairy scraps onto the pile. Put bricks around base of compost bin if necessary

Seeking warmth in winter

Turn pile and add browns to release built-up heat. Put bricks around base of compost bin if necessary

General

Sprinkle cayenne pepper liberally around the pile.

Not heating up

Insufficient moisture

Add water while turning pile or cover top

Poor aeration

Turn pile

Lack of greens

Mix in greens, e.g. grass clippings