Composting Your Garden Waste

Householders across the county are being encouraged to recycle their garden waste by turning it into compost — bringing huge benefits to themselves and the environment.

Buckinghamshire County Council has arranged special deals for residents on home compost bins in a bid to further increase the recycling rate this autumn. To find out more, go to www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.

Cllr Lesley Clarke, Chair of the Joint Waste Committee for Buckinghamshire, said: "Typically, one third of all household rubbish and garden waste is organic matter which can be recycled at home in a compost bin.

"Home composting not only helps to significantly reduce carbon emissions, it can also be used as an effective and sustainable waste management method to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. And it will also give residents a free supply of top-quality compost.''

Autumn is a key time in the garden as people prune, trim and prepare for next year. The alternative to compost is to take all the debris to the Household Waste Recycling Centre, or risk overfilling your green waste container.

"Instead of seeing this debris as waste, think of it as a magic ingredient that with very little work can be recycled to give you compost," added Cllr Clarke.

"Simply throw this waste into a compost bin and over the winter months 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 as well as adding vital nutrients back to your soil."

Buckinghamshire County Council has teamed up with Getcomposting.com to offer Home Compost Bins at special offer prices from only £19.98 (RRP £39). 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. See the PDF leaflet on this page for further details.

For general information on recycling and waste prevention in Buckinghamshire and to find out about the Council's volunteer Master Composter initiative, please visit www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk