Chance to learn about composting at special clinics

Herefordshire Council and Worcestershire County Council's waste prevention team and the Master Composters will be hitting the road later this month to pass on their expertise to make sure residents get the most out of their bins this autumn.

A series of special Compost Clinics will be taking place around the county, including one in Hereford’s High Town on Saturday, October 31, from 10am until 3pm, on Thursday, October 22, where practical support and advice will be on offer to anyone already composting at home, as well as those thinking of making, or buying, a compost bin.

Other clinics are being held at the Somerfield Store, New Street, Ledbury, on Monday, October 19 from 10am until 3pm; Morrisons store, Barons Cross Road, Leominster, on Friday, October 23 from 10am until 3pm and the Morrisons store, Station Street, Ross, on Friday, October 30 from 10am until 3pm.

Increased volumes of waste, such as grass cuttings, fallen leaves and clippings, make this a great time to help yourself and the environment by getting composting.

Local volunteer Master Composters will be on hand to prescribe treatment to solve any problems and there will be displays giving tips on what to do to get the right compost mix, information on the latest accessories and gadgets, which could make great Christmas presents, and advice on garden shredders.

There will also be the chance for visitors to discover the power of worms - composting worms can eat over half their weight in food in just one day.

All visitors will have the chance to win a wormery worth £55 along with runners-up prizes of quirky composting crocks and caddies. Anyone not able to drop by the clinics can enter via the Mission Impossible website at www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk
Councillor John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment and strategic housing, said: "The clinics are a great opportunity for people to meet the council's waste prevention team, and local Master Composters, to get practical tips that they can easily use at home. 

"According to WRAP (Waste and Resources Allocation Programme) households in England throw away around four million tonnes of waste every year that could have been composted and it's estimated that a quarter of this waste - around 200kg per household - could have been composted at home, but instead most will end up in landfill.
“There is often a belief that waste such as vegetable peelings or garden waste is harmless, but in a landfill tip they cause powerful gases to be released into the atmosphere. Home composting is a simple alternative that anyone can manage if they have a garden, allotment or even a patio.

“When waste of the type that could be composted is sent to landfill it breaks down and produces methane, a powerful global warming gas. Composting not only stops this waste going to landfill, it also produces a free fertiliser and soil improver which can be used on flower beds, plots, and window boxes. Even if you only have a patio, you still can play your part in helping the environment by using a wormery rather than a compost bin,” he added.

All sorts of things can be composted - from vegetable peelings to eggs shells.  The key to good compost is getting a healthy balance of materials; you will need roughly 50% nitrogen-rich matter which is found in food waste and grass (known as ‘greens’), and 50% carbon-rich matter found in woody substances like straw, prunings and scrunched or shredded paper(known as ‘browns’). 
Visitors to the Compost Clinics will also be able to find out more about how they can save money and reduce food waste by simply having correct portion sizes, using up leftovers and by shopping smartly.
Further information and advice about composting is available at www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk