As Compost Awareness Week (May 1st-7th) approaches, people across the county are being encouraged to take up composting at home.
There is a wide range of waste that you can throw in your compost bin including uncooked food excluding meat and fish, tea bags, coffee grounds, cardboard, shredded paper, eggshells, tissues and paper napkins. In total around 30 per cent of the contents of a typical household bin can be composted.
There are also many environmental benefits – for example if you compost at home for just one year, you can save as much carbon dioxide produced by your kettle in an entire year or your washing machine produces in three months.
Gloucestershire residents can buy a compost bin from £15 (plus £5.49 delivery charge) for a 220 litre bin. See www.recycleforgloucestershire.com for details.
Cllr Stan Waddington, Cabinet member for the Environment and Waste said: “If you buy a bin now – this time next year you will be able to make use of your homemade compost.”
“Compostable waste sent to landfill produces methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas. By composting at home, in the presence of oxygen, no methane is produced.”
Meanwhile, the County Council has a team of Master Composter volunteers who can provide help and advice to the public on any composting matters. For more details email: Katherine.cole@gloucestershire.gov.uk
