When you remove flowers from your garden, mow the grass, or prune a bush, valuable organic matter is lost. Composting replaces it, at no cost.
Improve your garden, reduce waste sent to landfill sites
Compost can be used as a substitute for manures and fertilisers, improving the structure and health of the soil, making it more fertile.
Composting also reduces the amount of rubbish being taken to landfill sites, and reduces the cost to householders of dealing with waste disposal.
The majority of waste is disposed of in landfill sites throughout the country. Organic waste is biodegradable and when it is buried in landfill sites it rots and produces methane gas. Methane gas can escape into buildings near landfill sites and lead to explosions. It is not necessary to send organic waste to landfill sites as it can be converted into a useful product by householders.
Meet environmental targets
The Council is committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill sites, in accordance with the National Waste Strategy 2000.
The Strategy specifies that we must recycle or compost 30% of household waste by 2010.
The government set the target of ensuring that 40% of households with a garden used a composter by 2010.
As a council we are dependant upon the help and support of our residents to enable these targets to be met.