Did you know that approximately 30% of household rubbish can be composted? Composting turns organic waste such as green garden rubbish (e.g. grass and leaves) and uncooked kitchen rubbish (e.g. fruit scraps and vegetable peelings) into an excellent soil conditioner. Composting can be done at home (using a bin or heap) or on a larger scale at a composting facility.

Home composting will benefit your garden by providing you with a free supply of compost, improving the nutrient content of the soil, helping soil structure and improving drainage.

Home composting also benefits the environment by stopping garden waste and some kitchen waste from being thrown away in your dustbin, where it will end up being buried in Essex landfill sites.

For details of how to order subsidised compost bins, water butts, kitchen composters and wormeries go to http://www.essex.getcomposting.com/.

Useful links

www.safegardening.co.uk - Garden safety, tips and advice including home composting.

www.recyclenow.com - The Recycle Now campaign has been created and is run by WRAP, which stands for the Waste & Resources Action Programme. WRAP will be working closely with councils and retailers to make sure the recycling message is heard. The site includes information on home composting.

www.wrap.org.uk - WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.

www.greatgreensystems.com - Details of wormeries, Green Cones and other ways of treating your food waste.