COMPOSTING BIN EVENT MAY 2006

On Saturday 27th May there was a scheme in place, which offered residents in the Isle of Lewis up to 3 free compost bins and a kitchen caddy, whilst stocks lasted. Each household could claim up to three compost bins, as having more than one compost bin allows time for the kitchen scraps and garden waste to compost fully in one bin while another is being filled The offer, operated on a first come first served basis, was run by the national waste organisation WRAP, with funding from the Scottish Executive. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar assisted with the facilitation of the event, but had no control over the way in which the event was run and the numbers of compost bins available on the day.

Due to the extremely high level of interest in the free offer, the police took the decision to close the event on road safety grounds. At that time approximately 1,000 compost bins were left. People who had been unable to obtain free compost bins on the day registered with the Waste Aware Helpline and appointments were made for subsequent distribution but even so the list was well over-subscribed.

In addition to the compost bins give away, Waste Aware Western Isles were on hand to help with three very successful workshops on 26th May to promote composting. The workshops were presented by Thomas Turnbull of WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) who talked everyone through the environmental benefits of composting, how to compost effectively and how best to use the compost with potting plants and in the garden. . Some of Thomas’s practical tips can be found on the Waste Aware Western Isles website (www.cne-siar.gov.uk/recycling) and further information on composting is available at www.recyclenow.com.

Pictured right is Ann Nicolson of Stornoway who was the last recipient of a compost bin. Ann was very pleased to have received a bin and is looking forward to learning how to compost.

Waste Aware would like to thank the Army Cadet Force (ACF) Stornoway Branch who gave up their Saturday to help pack the compost bins into the cars at the giveaway.