Compost
Added on 12 February 2009
Compost
Compost Champion scheme
Did you know a third of the waste produced from your household could be composted!
Composting organic waste at home is a natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a great fertiliser for your garden and the best thing is that it’s inexpensive!
Home composting is also a great way to stop organic waste going to landfill, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases being released into our atmosphere.
The Somerset Waste Action Programme is looking for individuals who are keen to learn more about home composting. We are inviting you to attend a free training day about home composting covering how to:
• Build or buy a compost bin
• Get the right composting mixture
• Compost additional items like vacuum cleaner contents and cardboard packaging
• Solve your composting dilemmas
• Pass your composting knowledge onto others.
You may have heard about similar schemes running across the UK such as Master Composters and Compost Ambassadors. Volunteers must be living within Somerset (West Somerset, Sedgemoor, Mendip or South Somerset District Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council) to be able to attend the free training. Training days will be occurring in late February. All we ask in return is that you take the time to pass your composting knowledge onto others. This may involve talking to friends, family and neighbours or attending local fairs, events and fetes – we’ll even pay your travel expenses for you and provide you with everything you will need for a display.
If you would like to join a few like-minded people to develop your composting skills at one of our free training sessions, please reply to this email (hm.swap@carymoor.org.uk) or phone Rupert or Hilary on 01963 351350 for further details. Please pass this information onto anyone who may be interested in attending the training and joining the scheme.
Somerset Waste Action Programme
The Somerset Waste Action Programme is a team of 6 experienced Waste Education Officers who work with schools and community groups across Somerset, raising awareness of waste issues.
SWAP is a joint venture between the Somerset Waste Partnership, which provides waste and recycling services on behalf of all local authorities in Somerset and the Carymoor Environmental Trust. Carymoor is an education charity that promotes sustainability to all ages.
SWAP can provide a number of free workshops, presentations and activities to schools and community groups in Somerset about waste minimisation, recycling and composting. For more information click here
To contact SWAP: email hm.swap@carymoor.org.uk or phone 01963 351350.
Visit our website for detailed information and useful tips on reducing, re-using, recycling and composting everyday household waste: www.somersetwaste.gov.uk
Compost bin offer
Why not take advantage of an excellent compost bin offer and start composting your kitchen and garden waste at home. You can receive a compost bin for as little as £17 delivered to your house. Three compost bins of varying size and design are on offer. A handy tip to make great compost for your garden is to have a mixture of 50% ‘greens’ and 50% ‘browns’ in your compost bin. Greens include fruit and vegetable peelings, grass cuttings and nettles. Browns include scrunched up paper and cardboard, brown leaves and sticks. Add the correct mixture of greens and browns to your compost bin and in 12months you’ll have fine crumbly compost for your lawn, flower bed, vegetable patch or hanging basket. For more information and to order your bin, click on the icon ‘Compost bin offer’ on the Somerset Waste website above.
Useful Links
Somerset’s Waste and Recycling Website:
The Somerset Waste Partnership’s website promotes waste minimisation, recycling and composting in Somerset. www.somersetwaste.gov.uk
Carymoor Environmental Centre:
An education charity based at Dimmer Landfill Site, near Castle Cary that promotes sustainability to all ages. www.carymoor.org.uk
Recycle Now Campaign:
A national campaign to encourage individuals to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change. www.recyclenow.com
Love Food Hate Waste Campaign:
A national campaign to raise awareness of the need to reduce food waste. www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.