Composting is a biological process so like most of us - the only trouble is that cold temperatures often slow us down!
But dont worry, because even as it gets colder, some microbes responsible for the breakdown of organic matter remain active in the compost pile and since their digestion / respiration process itself generates heat, the center of your compost heap should still remain warm and active. Essentially the advice is just - don't worry about it. Microbial activity will resume normally once the temperature warms up.
That said there are a few little things you can do to help.
Firstly feed your bugs - the bacteria need more food if anything at this time of year, so keep piling on your kitchen peelings, cardboard boxes, tea bags, chicken muck, egg shells, leaf litter, coffee grinds, dead pot plants, gone off fruit and veg, salad leaves, garden waste and shredded paper. And as ever you need to maintain a healthy balance of green and brown material in your compost heap. This can be trickier in winter when most of the lush green matter such as grass clippings is not available but remember most kitchen waste counts as "green material" ie. it is rich in nitrogen.
In terms of getting too cold you can help to minimise this by using an old carpet or a tarpouline to shelter your compost bin and keep the warmth in. It also helps keep the rain off which is another way to keep that natural warmth in. For plastic compost bins with lids this is not really a problem, but if you have a more open heap its ok to get a bit damp but you dont really want it getting completely soaked in the sort of wet weather we have been having of late because if it gets waterlogged it cuts off the oxygen which the bacteria need to thrive and it can "go anaerobic" which means it gets a bit pongy and reduces the environmental benefits.
The main thing is - dont give up - keep composting - whatever the weather you are helping to keep waste out of landfill and saving yourself money in the process!
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