Householders across Argyll and Bute are being urged to mark Compost Awareness Week by taking up composting as a greener way of disposing of garden and kitchen waste.
Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for Economy, Environment and Rural Affairs, Councillor Robert Macintyre, made the call to mark Waste Aware Scotland’s ninth annual Compost Awareness Week.
The week – which runs from May 3-9th aims to encourage more people to take up home composting by purchasing discounted compost bins via the Waste Aware Scotland Compost at Home campaign.
Backed by Argyll and Bute Council, the campaign – which runs across the UK in conjunction with the national Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) - offers bins from as little as £8, with different sizes available to suit all households.
Compost bins can be ordered at www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk or by calling 0845 076 0223.
Councillor Macintyre, said: “Composting is a relatively simple way of minimizing the amount of kitchen and garden waste that we produce.
“If residents follow the three top tips of placing the compost bin in a suitable location, getting the right mix of contents and ensuring a constant air supply, it also creates a fantastic soil conditioner for re-use in the garden.
“Argyll and Bute continues to encourage residents to home compost suitable waste, and we are confident that we will meet our Recycling Targets of 40% Recycling/Composting of Muncipal Waste Collected for 2010, and 50% by 2013.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about composting should visit the Council's website at http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/content/planning/rubbishandrecycling/Recycling/homecomposting.
Subsidised home composing bins can be bought from Waste Aware Scotland (WRAP) at http://www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/html/compost.asp.
Once purchased, Waste Aware Scotland offers the following tips to ensure householders get the most from their composting:
- Positioning the compost bin. Ideally place the bin on soil or grass in a partially shaded area of the garden that can be accessed easily all year round.
- Getting the right mix. Aim to get a 50/50 mix of Green materials such as fruit and veg peelings, cut flowers and grass cuttings and Brown materials such as paper, cardboard, egg shells and hedge trimmings.
- Adding air. Air speeds up the composting process. This can be done by adding air pockets created by placing scrunched up paper and card in the bin or manually by turning the compost with a garden fork.
Waste Aware Scotland’s web site hosts a list of all composting-related events being attended during the CAW by local Waste Reduction Advisors and volunteer experts from the national Master Composter Programme. This programme runs in conjunction with community groups across Scotland to provide support to those just starting and already composting. For more information on these events log on to: http://www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/html/compostWeekEvents.asp
To mark the week, Waste Aware Scotland has also launched a new Compost at Home Video clips section on its website at: www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/html/compost.asp
If you want to submit a letter please 
