People in County Durham are urged to get composting this Christmas. The County Council’s strategic waste management team is issuing tips and advice on how to get the most out of composting over the festive season.
Make your compost mixture more a-peel-ing: At Christmas much more food is always eaten and more food waste produced than at any other time of the year. The compost bin will really appreciate the peelings from winter vegetables and festive fruits.
Give your mix a Christmas present: Plain wrapping paper (non-metallic/glossy/waxy) and gift tags can be scrunched up and added to the mix. Make sure it is added gradually though and mix with fruit and veg peelings to get the right balance.
Cardboard packaging from Christmas toys and gifts will add fibre and structure to the composting bin, as well as paper napkins, Christmas crackers, inners and party hats! (Be careful not to include anything metallic/glittery or made from plastic film).
The remnants of the New Year’s Eve party will also be a welcome addition to the compost bin. Nut shells, wooden cocktail sticks, paper plates and some party food packaging too.
When the festivities are over for another year, if there is any room left in the compost bin, natural home made decorations, holly and the ivy, mistletoe and paper chains can be added.
You can put a compost bin to use almost immediately by composting the vegetable peelings and bits and pieces from your Christmas celebrations. By next year they will have rotted down to produce a nutritious free supply of compost which your garden will love.
Giving a compost bin not only makes a great Christmas present, but it’s a positive way to start the New Year by helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
To order a special discounted compost bin and see the range of other ‘green’ and energy saving products that could make great gifts, simply go to www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.
Compost bins start from as little as £16.00 (plus £5.49 if applicable) and as an added bonus you can also take advantage of the ‘buy one get one half price’ offer.
For further information on reducing your waste in County Durham visit: www.durham.gov.uk/recycling or Tel: 03000 261 000.
