Don't Waste your Waste - Get Composting this Autumn

The warmer weather this summer with the occasional almost tropical rain storm has encouraged our gardens to flourish, creating an abundance of surplus garden waste.

With autumn almost upon us, the time has come to prune, trim and prepare the garden for next year.  But what should you do with all the debris?

Instead of seeing it as waste, think of it as the magic ingredient that with very little work can be recycled to give you a free supply of top quality compost.

Simply throw it into a compost bin and over time it will rot down to produce environmentally friendly compost that when added to the garden will suppress weeds and retain moisture in the drier months whilst also adding valuable nutrients to the soil.  Don't forget to include vegetable kitchen waste such as peelings, apple cores, banana skins, tea bags etc. which will add nitrogen to the compost.  Any cooked food waste should be put into the green garden waste bin and can either be contained in a compostable caddy liner or simply wrapped in newspaper.

Home composting has many benefits:

• It's easy to make and easy to use
• Produces a free continual source of the very best compost
• Improves soil structure
• Maintains moisture
• Helps the soil PH balance
• Suppresses plant disease
• Reduces the need for polluting bonfires
• Reduces carbon emissions
• Helps to divert organic waste from landfill
• Reduces refuse collection costs

To encourage residents to get composting, Warwickshire County Council has teamed up with Getcomposting.com to offer home compost bins at special offer prices from only £5.00 (RRP £39) plus delivery . There is also a buy one get one half price offer, adding extra value to residents with larger gardens or those who team up with a friend or neighbour to buy a bin.

Getcomposting.com also have some very special offers on a range of other green goodies including compostable caddy liners to collect kitchen waste. To see what's available in your area, visit  www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.

For general information on recycling and waste in Warwickshire including tips on how to reduce the amount of waste you produce, please visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/composting.