Go Compost Crazy - for just a Fiver!

6.42.25pm GMT Sat 13th Mar 2004

A new scheme was launched recently by the Liberal Democrat run Milton Keynes Council in partnership with WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) to encourage residents to turn their kitchen and garden waste into compost rather than putting it in the bin.

Home composting is one of the single most effective actions you can take to minimise waste and help your garden grow. With this in mind, MKC has joined forces with WRAP to provide residents with cut-price home compost bins delivered direct to the front door and an easy to use fact sheet on how to get started.

For just £5 per bin not only are you helping to reduce waste but also:

• air pollution by not having bonfires

• the need to water your garden

• helping to increase your plant growth and health by replacing the need to use polluting and toxic chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

• getting a good way of getting rid of vegetable kitchen waste that you can't put in your garden waste wheeled bin.

And all you need to do is recycle your biodegradable waste - things like fruit and vegetable peelings, grass cuttings and old plants - by putting them in a home composting bin rather than a dustbin.

A staggering 60% of the rubbish we throw away in our dustbins could be recycled and reused. A large proportion of that rubbish is garden and kitchen waste that could be kept at home and composted. And composting your waste at home means

• less rubbish has to be collected and transported to disposal sites

• this means lower transportation costs

• lower use of fossil fuels and less pollution

• fewer lorries on our roads

• less pollution from waste tips

• reduced need for landfill sites.

Getting Involved:

Residents will soon sent information offering low cost home composting bins delivered direct to their front door, together with an easy-to-use fact sheet on how to get started. However, if you want to join the scheme now:

• To order a composting bin please ring 0845 7300123

• For any queries please contact the information helpline on 0845 6000323

Liberal Democrats helping you to help the Environment