Free Compost Giveaway Day
Bring your own shovel
Double the amount of free compost will be available to deal with expected demand from Hounslow residents at an upcoming gardening event to celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (6-12 May).
The council-hosted event will give residents the opportunity to learn how to save money while they make a contribution to their local environment by recycling waste rather than throwing it in the local tip.
The compost giveaway will take place at Hounslow Heath Nature Reserve car park, in Frampton Road, Hounslow, on May 12. It will run from 10am to 2pm and visitors should bring a shovel and some containers or boxes to take advantage of the free compost. Last year's event attracted 250 people.
Householders and tenants can fill up to four bags per visit with compost and make biodegradable newspaper plant pots for seedlings. There will be 10 tonnes of compost available for attendees, compared to five tonnes at last year’s Compost Day.
Please bring a shovel and some containers, bags, boxes or whatever you can find to carry your compost home in.
There will be a maximum of 4 bags per visit or at Hounslow's discretion.
And parents can introduce their child to costumed character Composting Claire, witness a display of wormery in action and vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is the process of taking organic waste and turning it into high quality compost using worms. There will be tips from gardening enthusiasts on composting and gardening.
Suresh Kamath, assistant director of environment at the council, said: "Most people don’t realise that up to 30 per cent of their household bin is made up of organic waste which can be turned into compost.
"Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that can transform your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden.
"It's both easy to make compost and use in the garden. We have teamed-up with getcomposting.com to provide cheap home compost bins and other green products."
Home compost can improve soil structure, maintain moisture levels and help to keep soil's PH balance in check while helping to suppress plant disease.
Householders can also purchase home compost bins for as little as £6 plus £5.49 per delivery for the 220 litre model and £9 plus £5.49 for the 330 litre version through the council, by telephone or by email.
Visit the environment pages on www.hounslow.gov.uk/recycling or email recycling@hounslow.gov.uk or telephone 020 8583 5060.
May 11, 2012