* How easy is the
Green Cone System to use?
Very. In your kitchen fill the Green Cone
caddy with all your organic kitchen waste. When convenient, empty the
caddy into the Green Cone in your garden.
* Where should I put the Green Cone
itself?
In a sunny, close-to-hand spot like a
flowerbed or vegetable plot. Do not put your Green Cone in a cold,
dark, wet place as it will not work properly.
* Can I use chemical activators as well?
No. Chemicals can kill or disrupt the bacteria
breaking down the food waste. If activator is required only use the
natural Green Cone accelerator powder.
* Can I use my Green Cone to dispose of
animal excrement?
Yes, in moderation. When you come to empty the
Cone, take care to wear gloves and make sure you wash your hands.
* How much food waste can I put in my
Green Cone?
Provided your Green Cone has been correctly
installed, three-quarters to one kilogram of food waste can be
disposed of in your Green Cone each day. This amount is typical of
that produced by a family of four. The precise quantity of waste
digested by your Green Cone each day will depend upon the ambient
temperature, the population of bacteria and the mix of food waste you
produce, where just like us the Green Cone responds to a balanced diet
of vegetables, fruit, fish and meat!
* Can I put garden waste in my Green
Cone?
It is better not to. A traditional
compost bin or heap is better at handling garden waste such as grass
cuttings.
* Do I have to turn or mix the contents
in my Green Cone?
No, just put all your food waste into
the Cone and forget it. Your Green Cone does all the hard work for
you.
* When and how often should I empty my
Green Cone?
In a well operating Green Cone the waste
residue will only need to be removed every few years and certainly no
more than once a year. It requires emptying when the residue builds-up
to about 10 cm (4") below ground level and shows no signs of reducing.
* Will my Green Cone work all year round?
Yes. Your Green Cone works 365 days a
year. The level of food waste may rise during winter but should drop
down when the weather gets warmer. If it slows during very cold
periods use the natural Green Cone accelerator powder.
* Why is there a bar across the top of
the Green Cone?
The bar across the mouth of the Green Cone
provides some rigidity in storage and transit. Its original purpose
was to prevent small children climbing into the Green Cone. Turning
the new catch on the lid now serves the same purpose and the bar may
safely be removed using a hacksaw to allow large scraps and carcasses
to be put more easily into the Green Cone.
* How do I get more accelerator powder?
Additional accelerator powder can be purchased
by contacting Green Cone Ltd using the free phone number 1-800-807-6527 or online at www.solarcone.net
* How do I clean the caddy?
The filter should be removed by snapping off
its holder and the caddy hand washed in warm soapy water.
* Can my Green Cone stop working?
Problems may occur if the advice on locating
your Green Cone given in this booklet is not followed, namely:
-
It must be in a sunny spot in your garden and not a shady area.
-
The surrounding soil must be well drained and not heavy clay or
chalk.
-
The black basket must not be below the water table or in an area
where water gathers.
If these
instructions are not followed the digestion process could turn
anaerobic (without oxygen) and the food waste will appear wet and
slimy. The only solution is to reinstall your Green Cone in accordance
with these instructions.
In periods of cold weather the digestion
process may slow down due to lack of natural bacteria. This would be
evident by the level of waste in the basket not decreasing. Under
these circumstances the addition of the natural Green Cone accelerator
powder should restore the bacteria population and restart the
digestion process.
* What about methane?
Food decomposing in the presence of oxygen in
your Green Cone produces very little methane.
* Will the Green Cone attract flies?
The Green Cone is a sealed unit and when
properly installed emits no smells. It does not therefore attract
flies. However, the eggs of fruit flies are already in the skins of
many fruits and can hatch out in the Green Cone. Similarly, if food or
food waste is not kept covered prior to going into the Green Cone,
eggs may be laid by a house fly/blue bottle. These would also produce
maggots and flies in the Green Cone. Good housekeeping is therefore
important. Should flies become a nuisance they can be eradicated by
using an 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. An organic product called "Flyko - fly and wasp
killer" made by Agralan is recommended. This can also be obtained
directly from Green Cone Ltd using the freephone number 1-800-807-6527 or online at www.solarcone.net.
Under no circumstances use liquid fly killer inside the cone.
* Does the Green
Cone attract vermin?
If correctly installed, your Green Cone will
not attract vermin. By ensuring that the top of the black basket and
the bottom lip of the green outer cone are below ground level any
smells will be filtered out by the surrounding soil. It is also
important not to spill food near the Green Cone.
If you suffer from rats in your garden, you
could be unlucky with a rat run crossing the Green Cone. If you think
there is a chance of this happening you should obtain a special "wire
wrap" from Green Cone Ltd.
