Instructions On Composting..

They did actually say that large amounts of sawdust and wood shavings are unsuitable.

Also, having spoken to them about it they say that a lot of people get their wood shavings from when they are doing woodworking and a lot of the time the wood used is treated with chemicals.

I use wood shavings and sawdust from trees that have been cut down in the garden but when used in quantity they delay the rotting down. Cardboard and paper works better in the mix - apart from glossy paper.

I would guess that the reference to non-deciduous leaves would be either because of unsuitable types of leaves (toxicity in a lot of them - Eucalyptus and laurel just as examples) and that they also delay the rotting process. They are almost certainly referring to the cutting of the evergreens - Leyllandii and Laurel are very common hedging plants over here. For instance, Laurel, depending on which kind, contains andromedotoxin, cyanogenic glycosides and amygdalin. Eucalyptus contains eucalyptol.

 

Conifer needles will also add to the acidity of the soil.

 

Peeing on it is supposed to help but I don't think it would be allowed where you are!

 

Well, I'm very scientific in my approach to a compost heap........if it will decompose, and isn't food then it gets thrown on. I let it alone, don't turn it over, don't cover it and and take the good stuff from a opening in the bottom. It's served me well over the years despite the lack of care taken with it.
I don't think I would add Pine needles or Pine wood to the compost because, in my opinion, it's too resinous to rot down reasonably quickly and I haven't the inclination to reduce it to sawdust etc