Witney News - Free compost bins and advice up for grabs

Free compost bins and advice up for grabs

Free garden composting bins are up for grabs by West Oxfordshire residents this week in a special promotion to coincide with national Compost Awareness Week which runs from 4th-10th May.

The first 150 residents to complete an online application form on the District Council’s website at
www.westoxon.gov.uk/composting, or phone to apply for a bin on 01993 861020, will be allocated a free composting bin.

These will be available for collection on Saturday May 17th at Witney and Chipping Norton when the Council’s newly assigned volunteer “Compost Doctor” will be on hand with composting tips.

Volunteer compost enthusiast and Bradwell resident Peter Cook has been trained up by Oxfordshire County Council, in partnership with WRAP, and is West Oxfordshire’s Compost Doctor.

As well as lending advice during Compost Awareness Week, Peter will be working with the District Council to promote home composting at events throughout the year.
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The scheme’s aim is to help members of the community start composting at home, and support those who already do so.

In addition the special promotion for residents, the District Council will be handing out free composters to every school in West Oxfordshire as part of the Council’s commitment to support schools to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “Making compost is one of the best ways to help protect the environment. About 30 per cent of household waste is made up of organic kitchen and garden waste and every year five million tonnes of this is buried in landfill sites in the UK.

“All fresh vegetable and fruit peelings from the kitchen, eggshells, and most types of garden waste are suitable for composting and I would encourage as many people as possible to dispose of this refuse in a compost bin.”

The photo shows Peter Cook, West Oxfordshire’s new “Compost Doctor”