Resource Cumbria is urging food lovers across the county to remember to compost as they indulge in the fruits of the autumn season.
As September 23rd marks the autumnal equinox and the official end of the summer, many people's thoughts will be turning to the mouth-watering harvest of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
When cooking up seasonal favourites like damson jam or blackberry and apple crumble, residents are being urged to compost cores, peelings, skins and any unwanted fruit. By recycling organic material in this way, unwanted waste can be transformed into free high quality fertiliser.
Since Resource Cumbria - the waste partnership between Cumbria County Council and the six district councils - joined the national Recycle Now Compost at Home Scheme in 2006 they have supplied almost 18,000 compost bins to Cumbrian residents.
For those who are not composting already, autumn is a great time to start - and, with compost bins available from as little as £8, it has never been easier to get started.
As well as composting much of your food waste and other items such as egg shells and scrunched up paper, you can also load up your compost bin with prunings, grass cuttings and fallen leaves.
In around six to nine months the compost will be ready to use, but enthusiastic gardeners can apply peat-free soil conditioners in the meantime. These products, which contain recycled materials, such as grass cuttings, prunings or leaves from local gardens and parks, can also improve the nutrient level and structure of soil.
Lynne Gunn of the Recycle Now Compost at Home Campaign, says: "As summer fades into autumn, many of the nation's favourite fruits and vegetables are coming into season. When tucking into these autumnal treats, spare a thought for the environment and don't let the leftover material go to landfill.
"Invest in a compost bin and you'll be surprised how much free, nutritious fertiliser you can make - just by recycling organic waste from your home and garden."
Compost bins are available from £8. For more information follow the link at the bottom of the page or call 0845 077 0757.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Justin Hawkins, Media Officer on 01228 606334
Notes
1. Recycle Now, launched by Matthew Pinsent in September 2004, is a multi-media national recycling campaign implemented and managed by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) on behalf of the Government. The aim of the campaign is to encourage more people to recycle more stuff, more often.
2. WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.
3. Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
4. Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP's work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
5. More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk
6. A survey conducted by Exodus in autumn 2005 interviewed 20,000 GB citizens and revealed that 34% of GB households have composted something at home over the last 12 months, with 23% composting both kitchen and garden waste.
7. As part of WRAP's Organics programme, the Know Your Compost Campaign works in partnership with Recycle Now to raise awareness of the environmental benefits and availability of peat-free composts that contain recycled garden material. By encouraging people to buy peat-free compost containing recycled material, the campaign helps to divert waste from landfill and complete the recycling loop.
For further media information contact:
Helen Prowse / Holly Smale, 3 Monkeys Communications, tel: 020 7440 2410, Email: Helen@3-monkeys.co.uk / Holly@3-monkeys.co.uk
OR
Lynne Gunn, WRAP, tel: 01295 819662, Email: lynne.gunn@wrap.org.uk
Follow this link to find more information on recycling in Cumbria