Get a grant for starting a community shredding or composting scheme
Residents keen to start community composting and shredding schemes with neighbours this autumn can apply for council grants and access special offers.
The council says composting kitchen and garden waste at home can cut rubbish by around a third, helps to avoid garden waste collection charges or trips to the dump and gives you a free supply of eco-friendly peat-free compost. The less rubbish that has to be taken away, the lower the council's disposal costs - helping to keep council tax low.
Compost can be made from uncooked vegetables and peelings, salad, old fruit, tea bags, coffee grounds, plant trimmings, grass cuttings, dead leaves, and dead bunches of flowers. Woodier material can be composted easily if it is put through a garden waste shredding machine first and suitable kitchen waste can be collected easily using a kitchen caddy container.
Wandsworth residents can buy a 220 litre composter for £15, a 330 litre one for £18 and/or a kitchen caddy for £5.25 (plus £5.49 delivery). Wormeries and indoor composters enabling households without gardens to compost their kitchen waste are also available. You will need some space outside, though, as compost will need to be transferred to an outside composter, or dug into the ground.
For more information and advice on home composting, making your own container and the products available under the council's special offer, visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/composting. Products can also be ordered by calling 0845 130 60 90.
Electric shredders are available for £99.95 and £149.95. The recommended retail prices of these models are £199.95 and £339.90. Find out more at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/shredder.
The council will consider helping groups of neighbours buy a composter or shredder for shared use through its Eco-fund. Find out more at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/ecofund.
August 29, 2011