The JK 125 and 270 Composters. Your own Ecological
Revolution!
With a JK125 or JK270 composter, you don't have to be a gardener - or
even have a garden! - to be able to produce your own nutritious compost.
The JK125/270 helps you make perfect compost from your kitchen waste
hygienically, with the minimum of fuss and mess (and no worms!). Your food
waste will no longer rot and smell in your dustbin until collection day,
and you can take comfort in the fact that you are playing your part in
reducing the demands on our overburdened landfill sites.
For more information on the Joraform Composters, please click play on the
video above.
Perhaps you want to 'do your bit' for the environment but never thought
it was possible to compost all your kitchen waste...
Perhaps the Council now only collects your food waste every other week
and it rots and smells in a wheelie bin or black plastic sack...
Perhaps
you've tried composting before, and been unimpressed by the results -
wondering if the stuff in the plastic bin at the end of your garden will
ever stop smelling and rot down...
Perhaps you've noticed how conventional
composters can attract rats and mice, particularly if you are putting your
kitchen waste in them...
Perhaps you've considered buying a wormery-type
composter, but have been put off by the thought of managing and cleaning
up after all those wriggling, squirming worms...
Rotation Regular mixing is necessary for successful composting for two
reasons:
Fresh waste is brought into direct contact with decaying waste,
increasing the efficiency of the process
Air is allowed into the mixture, providing the oxygen that is vital for
the process
The JK125/270 composter is constructed for ease and simplicity of
rotation - it's simply turned by hand whenever waste is put in. The
composting process generates heat, and the different microorganisms start
working at different temperatures. The insulation in the JK125/270
composter allows the temperature to rise as high as 75 degrees C,
resulting in the quickest and most efficient composting of your organic
kitchen waste.
As temperatures drop in winter, the composting process will slow.
However, because of its integral insulation, the JK125/270 will continue
working long after other composters have stopped completely. The photos
our JK270 were taken in January and February this year, when local
temperatures got down below minus 5 degrees C on several occasions, and
twice reached overnight lows of minus 7 degrees.
The JK125/270 is divided into two compartments. One is being filled
while the compost in the other matures. Once the compartment being filled
can take no more, the mature compost is emptied from the other
compartment, and the cycle begins again.
The JK 125/270 composter will accept all organic waste generated by a
household:
Raw and cooked food scraps - vegetable, meat or fish Cardboard, e.g.
egg cartonsGarden waste
In fact, anything biodegradable - even pet waste, e.g. your rabbit or
hamster bedding. In addition to the waste, which has a high nitrogen
content, a source of carbon must be added to provide an energy source for
the microorganisms. This is done by adding sawdust or wood pellets (which
are simply compressed sawdust) when adding the waste. Add woodpellets in
the ratio of 1:10 (pellets to waste). Add sawdust in the ratio of 1:3
sawdust to waste. The sawdust/wood pellets also absorb moisture, keeping
the mixture relatively dry. We have tried using wood shavings but this was
not so successful as they do not absorb the moisture to the same degree as
sawdust or pellets. Wood pellets can usually be obtained from a solid-fuel
appliance vendor as they are used as a biofuel in special wood-burning
stoves and boilers. One of our customers has recently told us that coir
works very well, as do dry leaves. Dry, chopped straw can also be used.
Note to cat owners: wood pellets are also available as cat litter, so
this is an excellent environmentally-friendly way of disposing of your cat
waste!
It will take somewhere in the region of 6 to 8 weeks for each chamber
from starting to fill to production of compost - so once both chambers are
in operation you should be emptying one chamber every 3-4 weeks or so.
JK 125 and JK 270 Frequently-Asked Questions
Q: Can I really compost all my kitchen waste? What about
bones?
A: Yes, you really can compost everything (although watery soups and
stews should be drained first). You can put in things such as fish bones,
chicken carcasses and other bones. The fish bones will compost thoroughly
and disappear. The chicken and larger meat bones will come out cleaned of
any traces of meat (and will not be attractive to pets or vermin). Smaller
chicken bones (e.g. ribs) will compost if they are in for a sufficiently
long time.
Q: Where can I buy wood pellets?
A: Wood pellets are normally available from a solid fuel stove
supplier (they are the latest ‘carbon neutral' energy source for stoves
and boilers) - look in your Yellow Pages under “Heating Equipment- Solid
Fuel”. If you have difficulties, we can send you 15 kg of wood pellets,
but though the cost of the pellets is cheap, the postage is expensive and
it would cost £20 in total. Wood pellet cat litter can also be used, but
it is more expensive (although if you have a cat it will be ideal – you
can use the waste litter).
Q: Doesn't cat
litter contain chemicals?
A: You can buy 100% compostable and bio-degradable cat litter such as
Cat's Best Öko Plus, SmartCat, Bio-Catolet (paper based) – there are
plenty on the market and they can be bought online.
Q: Is there anything else I can use apart from wood
pellets or sawdust?
A: Coir (coconut fibre) works well.
Q: Can
I use cardboard or shredded paper instead of wood pellets?
A: In theory, yes, but paper needs to be cross-shredded otherwise it
bunches up in the machine and forms a ball. Cardboard is more of a problem
as it needs to be cut up into small pieces by hand. You also need a
considerable amount, so it's better to consider this as a supplement, not
a substitution.
Q: What about garden waste? Can
I put this in?
A: You can put in any vegetation, except hard, woody stems and
branches – these don't have enough time to compost down, even if shredded.
For this reason we don't recommend wood chips in place of pellets or
sawdust.
Q: If I put my garden weeds in, will
it kill off the seeds?
A: The only common seeds that seem to be indestructible are tomato
seeds. All other seeds will be destroyed by the heat generated in the
machine.
Q: Can I put my grass cuttings in?
A: Yes – but if you produce a large amount on a regular basis you will
fill the machine in no time and have no room for your kitchen waste!
Q: How often do I need to turn the machine?
A: Every time you put waste in - that's all.
Q: Does the machine come complete with the brackets to hang it on the
wall?
A: Yes.
Q: I have a wooden shed. Can I hang
it on that?
A: Normally no, unless it is specially reinforced for the purpose. The
machines are very heavy when full - the JK 270 will weigh around 250kg.
You can concrete in a couple of 150mm x 150mm posts to attach it to or
attach the unit to a solid brick or block wall with rawlbolts or similar -
DO NOT USE ORDINARY PLUGS AND SCREWS. If in doubt, stand it on the ground.
Q: If I don't want to hang it on a wall, does it need to
be on a firm base?
A: Yes – the legs should stand on planks, slabs or concrete, otherwise
when full it will sink into the ground.
Q: Does
the process produce liquid?
A: Yes, some liquid production is unavoidable and the machines are not
water-tight. Moisture content of the mixture is regulated by the wood
pellets or sawdust (see the operating instructions). It is important to
drain your kitchen waste of any excess liquid before you put it into the
machine.
