Time to start composting says council

LEICESTERSHIRE County Council is encouraging residents to start composting this autumn in a bid to make the county cleaner and greener. The authority is offering cut-price compost bins to all those interested.

As the nights draw in, many people will choose to tidy their garden in preparation for the winter months ahead – and composting fallen leaves, prunings and grass cuttings is an excellent, natural way to dispose of your garden waste.

Organic waste sent to landfill cannot decompose properly because it does not have any access to air, so methane is generated – a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda, said:

“Composting is a simple action we can all take all year round to reduce waste and live more sustainably. Any Leicestershire resident can compost if they have an outdoor space, and free support is available from the council’s Master Composters.

“Not only does composting produce a free soil conditioner for your garden, it also helps to lower carbon emissions and reduce climate change. So, I encourage you to get involved, make a positive impact on the environment and help us meet our ultimate aim of becoming a net-zero county by 2045.”

Items such as coffee grounds, tea bags, newspapers, and fruit and vegetable peelings can also go in the compost bin, and will take around a year to decompose. The new compost – a brown soil-like substance with a crumbly texture - can then be dug back into the garden to provide nutrient rich food for your plants.

Residents can buy a discounted compost bin from as little as £12, with a second one offered at half price. The bins are made from 100% recycled plastic and are available in two different sizes and colours to suit individual needs.

For more details or to order a compost bin, visit www. getcomposting.com

For handy tips on what you can and can’t compost, visit: https://www.lesswaste.org. uk/compost/homecomposting/