Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I deal with flies and maggots?
A. The housefly/bluebottle can be totally avoided if food, particularly meat and pet food, is not left out for eggs to be laid on. Put food straight into the kitchen caddy with the lid closed. The eggs of fruit flies are already in the skins of many fruits and can hatch out in the Green Cone. Flies can be eradicated using air borne fly killer (given the enclosed space inside the cone a little squirt kills the flies very quickly) which will not kill the bacteria needed to break down the food. Under no circumstances use liquid fly killer inside the cone.
Q. Will the food waste bins attract vermin?
A. Food waste bins are designed so that they do not attract vermin. All you have to do is follow the instructions on how to install the food waste digesters correctly so that the smell cannot get out and vermin will not be attracted. The Green Johanna's intricately designed base plate makes it 100% rodent proof.
Q. What can I do if the food waste is decaying too slowly?
A. The Green Cone is supplied with accelerator powder and an application jar (one Green Cone per household only). If you have installed your Green Cone in a position where it does not enjoy full sunshine or when there are long periods of cold weather, then the digestion process my be slow and will benefit from an application of this powder. A very small amount should be shaken into the caddy before emptying the food waste into the Green Cone. This will help break down the food waste and keep the cone working efficiently. If the waste is still not decaying please contact Green Cone for further advice.
Q. What is in the accelerator powder?
A. The accelerator powder contains natural bacteria. Before emptying the kitchen caddy into the cone a small amount of accelerator powder should be shaken into the kitchen waste.
Q. Where can I buy more accelerator powder?
A. You can purchase accelerator powder by telephoning Green Cone on 0800 052 0462.
Q. How do I fill my Green Cone?
A. A convenient caddy is provided that can be kept in the kitchen to collect your plate scrapings and other food waste before emptying the waste into your Green Cone. The Green Cone food waste digester requires no mixing or turning - just put all your food waste into the Green Cone and forget about it.
Q. How much compost does the Green Cone produce?
A. The Green Cone does not produce any compost. However, it does produce a little waste residue. Should the residue build up to ground level and not decrease, the cone can be removed to access the digestion chamber and the residue can be dug into any suitable area of the ground in your garden.
Q. How do you install and maintain your Green Johanna?
A. Full instructions come with the product, together with a stirring stick.
Q. Where should you locate a Green Johanna?
A. Aim to have the Green Johanna as close to the kitchen as possible as you may want to put food waste in up to 4 times a week. The composter should stand on soil or grass, so that the worms can get in through the holes in the base. A good place is among trees which give shade. They will also offer a certain amount of protection from the cold in winter.
Q. How much of my kitchen waste can I put in my Green Johanna?
A. The Green Johanna will take around 120 kilos per person a year.