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

Not only will there be the opportunity to collect free compost and details of how to purchase low-cost compost bins, but there will also be advice on how to make your own compost via two free webinars and expert advice at many events.

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

• Saturday 3 May - Eye, Community Centre, from 8am to 11am
• Sunday 4 May - Hadleigh, Morrisons Car Park, from 8am to 11am
• Saturday 10 May - Sudbury, Station Road Car Park, from 8am to 11am
• Sunday 11 May - Needham Market, Needham Lakes, from 8am to 11am

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 7 May - Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, IP27 0SU, from midday
• Friday 9 May - Wickham Market Youth Football Club, opp. allotments, Wickham Market, IP13 0ST, from 10am to 2pm

The events will be on a first come, first served basis and will finish once the compost runs out.

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.

Councillor Philip Smart, Chair of the Suffolk Waste Partnership, 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 www.getcomposting.com, call 0800 316 4454 or pick up a leaflet at all events listed.

For further details on Compost Awareness Week and home composting please visit www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk