Highland Council Launches Home Composting Scheme in Lochaber

This week The Highland Council launches its Home Composting scheme in Lochaber offering residents a lifetime’s supply of free compost if they buy a discounted compost bin for their garden for only £10.

This special offer is available until 31st August and as the demand is expected to be high, the Council is advising anyone interested in buying a compost bin to order theirs early. Postcards detailing how to take up the discount deal will be delivered to householders soon.

Composting is a recycling technique that uses natural processes to convert organic materials to humus through the action of microorganisms and bacteria in soil. Compost is a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter, such as garden and kitchen waste, and is used for fertilising and conditioning land.

Both seasoned and occasional gardeners are being encouraged to take up home composting and help to significantly reduce the amount of domestic and commercial waste that goes to landfill.

This campaign is a partnership between The Highland Council, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and The Scottish Waste Awareness Group.p and the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

The Council’s spokesperson on Waste Management, Councillor Bill Fulton said:  “Composting selected kitchen and garden waste is an effective way of reducing, reusing and recycling some of the daily waste we produce, while providing significant benefits for our gardens and the wider environment.  It is easy to do and once you start you will be surprised just how much of your daily household waste can be recycled this way.”

A similar offer was available last year to residents of Skye and Lochalsh, Wester Ross and West and Central Sutherland.  This proved to be a great success with over 2,000 compost bins being purchased.  These areas will be targeted again together with the rest of the Highlands over the next few months.

For more information on composting visit the Waste Aware Scotland website (www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk) or The Composting Association website (www.compost.org.uk).