Become your own binman (or woman)

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Recycle your green waste in new subsidised scheme

Hammersmith & Fulham council is offering residents the opportunity to recycle their green waste in their own gardens by taking advantage of this summer's subsidised composting scheme.

Keen gardeners will already be aware that the council is offering a garden waste collection service from May 28, but the subsidised composting bins are ideal for those who want to plough the fruits of their labour, as well as fruit and vegetable peelings and tea bags, back into their flowerbeds. The special bins provide the perfect environment to generate heat which helps organic waste break down into a rich compost.

Two sizes of bins are on offer - a 235 litre composter at a cost of £8 and a larger 335 litre bin for £12. These would normally cost £44.95 and £49.95 respectively. The subsidised bins will be available until August.

Councillor Michael Cartwright, Deputy for Environment said, "Composting at home is really rewarding because your efforts in the garden give you something useful in return, which you would normally have to pay for. It is one of the greenest ways to recycle because there is no transportation or processing involved, and all the nutrients and goodness in garden waste are returned directly to the garden. The council is working hard to make Hammersmith & Fulham a smarter, greener borough and that is why we are subsidising these bins to help residents do their bit for the environment."

Hammersmith & Fulham residents who would like advice on composting should call the London CRN Compost Network on 020 7324 4690 or e-mail compost@lcrn.org.uk

The subsidised scheme has been paid for from the council's community recycling budget, which has also paid for the provision of recycling sites and school facilities.

May 23, 2005