Love Is .... Composting at
Valentines
Recycle Now is urging residents of Purbeck to
join the green revolution this Valentines Day – by home-composting
flowers once the celebrations are over. It is predicted that
on Valentines Day average sales of fresh flowers in Purbeck will
double* - which will create a lot of organic waste that could be
put to good use in compost bins across the area.
Lynne Gunn, Campaign Manager for the Recycle
Now Compost at Home Campaign, said: “On Valentines Day 2007,
over 40 million red roses were given in the UK*, so it’s clearly
the time of the year when we show our love for each other – but why
not take a moment to show our love for the environment
too?
“Many people ask “Why home compost?”
Home composting diverts waste from landfill sites where it would
break down without oxygen and give off the harmful greenhouse gas
methane When
composted at home, the same waste breaks down with oxygen and, as a
result, no methane is produced, which is better for the
environment. What’s more, the finished compost can be put to
good use as a free natural fertiliser for plants and gardens, so
everyone’s a winner!”
Home composting every day reduces the amount
of waste sent to landfill sites. Occasions such as Valentines day
are a great time to remember the variety of items that can be added
to your compost bin – not just vegetable peelings and tea, but
flowers and plant cuttings too! As the Valentines
celebrations become a distant memory, old flowers will be a perfect
ingredient. Flowers are a ‘green’ ingredient
and rot quickly to provide moisture and nitrogen for the compost,
making a nutritious end product.
It is vital to mix these ‘green’ items with
more fibrous ‘brown’ items such as shredded paper and card as these
will add structure to your compost and allow air in. So,
those cards that say “I love you” can also say “I love my compost
bin”. Either rip up or scrunch the cards and add them to the
mix – and in nine to twelve months you will have a batch of
perfectly balanced compost.
Throughout February, you can purchase
discounted composting bins from Recycle Now, which has teamed up
with all the Dorset authorities. For more information or to
order, please see the website www.recyclenow.com/compost
or telephone 0845 077 0757.