As part of International Compost Awareness Week, Durham County Council is offering discounted compost bins to encourage residents to recycle their kitchen and garden waste.
Compost Awareness Week, which runs from 5 to 11 May, aims to get more people composting by highlighting the benefits it brings to the environment.
This year’s theme, Cool the Climate – Compost!, recognises the connection between soil health and the climate. The campaign highlights how composting can return nutrients to the soil, help capture carbon from the atmosphere, resist drought and disease and provide fresh air.
The council is promoting a special buy one, get one free Share and Save offer on a selection of compost bins, in partnership with getcomposting.com, so residents can team up with a family member, friend or neighbour to each get a discounted compost bin.
The bins will allow household organic waste to be recycled into peat free compost, that will improve the quality and yield of home-grown fruit and vegetables, providing an abundance of produce to share between family and friends.
Victoria Burrell, Durham County Council strategy team manager, said, “Around a third of the average household bin can be composted and although many households already compost at home, we want others to get involved.
“This is a great incentive to encourage more residents to get composting and set up their own composting communities, sharing the rewards. Home composting organic waste also helps to significantly reduce carbon emissions and can also be used as an effective and sustainable waste management method.”
A range of compost bins and accessories are available to suit both new recruits and seasoned gardeners from www.getcomposting.com, or by calling 0844 571 4444.
Further information on home composting can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/composting or by e-mailing wasteaware@durham.gov.uk
