WAIT A WHILE TO TURN WASTE INTO COMPOST PILE!

Local people are being encouraged to re-think what they do with their organic food and garden waste as Northern Ireland Composting Week begins (20th May).

Up to 30% of an average household's waste is organic and can be turned into compost - the equivalent of 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. Egg shells, vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds, as well as grass cuttings, leaves and small sticks can all be used on a compost pile or in a composting container, creating a home-made compost to be re-used in borders, planters and baskets.

Diverting waste away from landfill sites is key, according to Clive Catterson, Waste Awareness Officer with Ards Borough Council, which is supporting Northern Ireland Composting Week (20th - 30th May).

"Thousands of people use brown bins in Ards to dispose of all their food waste which is great. For those who have gardens, however, home composting means they not only divert their garden and organic food waste, but also get something back to re-use in growing plants and flowers. It costs nothing and it's peat free too which is good for our peat bogs and associated wildlife. I'd encourage anyone simply to create a space in their garden which will become their compost heap or to invest in a home composter which can be obtained from the Council for a nominal fee of £5".

If you would like to know more about composting at home, log on to www.rethinkwasteni.org or contact Clive Catterson, Waste Awareness Officer at Ards Borough Council, Tel: 028 9182 4024.