Mulch ado about nothing
by Simon Handby in At home on 26.06.07
Last week’s story about Torbay’s solar compacting bin started us thinking about waste and what happens to it. Never afraid to go digging around in rubbish, we found some government statistics showing exactly what we throw away.
Apparently the biggest proportion (20%) of the average English household’s waste is material from the garden. If that seems surprising, it’s more so when you consider that most garden waste is easily recycled by composting, as the Royal Horticultural Society is happy to point out.
Another big offender is kitchen waste, with the gloriously-termed ‘putrescible material’ making up 17% of what we throw away. Again, the vast majority of this could be added to a compost heap.
Without a garden you might be forgiven for thinking you’re off the hook, but these days you can buy kitchen waste digesters like this one from Living Soil. Described as “The best way to divert kitchen waste from the landfill”, it produces a liquid that’s good for feeding plants or cleaning drains.
Of course, you’ll still need to find a garden or allotment where you can bury your fermented solid waste. We recommend you ask first, but green-fingered friends or neighbours are unlikely to turn their nose up at some free fertiliser.
Add your comment