Recycling - composters

20% of the waste in your dustbin is food and garden waste.

Waste is usually buried in the ground in a landfill site. When food and garden rubbish are buried, the waste rots down and produces methane gas. The gas can escape into buildings near landfill sites and can cause explosions.

Instead of burying our food and garden waste, we can recycle it into compost for the garden. Compost feeds soil and helps plants grow. If you have your own compost you won't need to buy chemical fertilisers for the garden.

In order to make compost, you need a composter. These come in many forms, but a common type is a plastic bin made from recycled material with a lid and hatch for easy access.

Unlike an ordinary bin, food and garden waste in a composter doesn't smell.

What can I recycle in my composter?

Twenty per cent of waste is organic (green waste) and can be recycled into compost for the garden:

• Grass
• Garden waste - prunings and cuttings
• Food waste - such as vegetable peelings, tea bags, egg shells 

How can I order a composter?

To order your bin call 0845 077 0757 or visit the Recycle Now website

Recycle Now offer subsidised compost bins on our behalf.