Free compost, expert advice and bargain compost bins to help Suffolk residents

Not only will there be free compost and details of low-cost compost bins, but there will also be advice on how to make your own.

Free pre-bagged compost will be available to visitors (2 bags per vehicle – while stocks last) at the following events:

• Saturday 4 May - Eye, Community Centre, from 9am to midday
• Sunday 5 May - Hadleigh, Morrisons Car Park, from 9am to midday
• Saturday 11 May - Sudbury, Station Road Car Park from 8am to midday
• Sunday 12 May- Needham Market, Needham Lakes from 9am to midday

There are also two 'Shovel it Yourself' compost giveaway events taking place - visitors will need to bring their own shovel and bags/containers to collect the compost (while stocks last) at these events:

• Wednesday 8 May – from midday at Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0SU
• Friday 10 May - 10am to 2pm at Abbey Grove Car Park, Felixstowe, IP11 9HD

Ipswich residents, schools and community groups have the chance to win compost for their project with their new compost competition 'Make it Grow with DiGBY!'

For those interested in making their own compost, the Suffolk Waste Partnership is continuing its successful compost bin promotion, which helps residents buy compost bins and other food digesters at discounted prices to suit most resident’s needs and budget. Prices start from only £19.98 for compost bins and £26.50 for food digester systems.

On average, more than a third of the contents of Suffolk’s rubbish bins could easily be composted at home. Each household in Suffolk could compost 150kg of organic material a year, turning this waste into free soil improver for their garden.

Craig Renton, Suffolk County Council Waste Advisor, said:

"Home composting is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way to deal with compostable material, as it requires no transport or processing and is an environmentally friendly alternative to peat-based compost.

“Our Compost Awareness Week events and activities provide the opportunity for people to discover the many benefits of compost, whether it is made at home or through the councils’ green waste recycling services.”

For details of all the discounted items available to Suffolk households through the offer, and to order, please visit http://www.getcomposting.com/ or call 0800 316 4454. Information about discounted compost bins will be available at all events listed. Further details on Compost Awareness Week and home composting please visit www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk