Ten Reasons On Why It Is Good To Compost
Brown bins have been given to householders for the collection of garden waste. There introduction has assisted the council in meeting obligations to reduce waste going to landfill as set out in our Waste Plan. So why should householders also consider composting? Here are 10 reasons on why it is good to compost!
1. You can reduce the amount of garden waste that has to be taken away by the council. This is particularly good if you have a big garden and you find that your brown bin is not big enough to hold all the waste you produce within one collection cycle.
2. You can also use it as a means of disposing of fruit and vegetable waste. At present brown bins cannot be used to dispose of fruit and vegetable kitchen waste. Potentially contamination from meat could spread through the composting process. On the other hand, householders composting material produced from their own household that will be used in their own garden, are better placed to monitor what goes into their compost bin. This should minimise any risk of contamination spreading.
3. Use the compost produced to improve your soil. Soils that are very sandy are better able to hold on to water and nutrients for plants to use. Heavy clay soils on the other hand can become looser, allowing better drainage and nutrients to be released more easily.
4. The compost produced is free. After the purchase of the bin, all the raw ingredients used in the composting process are waste products that rot down to produce free compost for you to use.
5. Composting can be an alternative to using peat based compost. Compost bought from garden centres can contain peat. This may have involved damage to fragile peat land habitats and disturbance to the rare wildlife that lives there. Peat lands are important in regulating water flow through our environment and also store huge amounts of carbon, which when released contributes to climate change. By making your own compost it reduces the reliance on peat and therefore damage to the wider environment.
6. Composting should reduce the need to buy fertilisers. Composting creates a product for you to use in your garden which releases the nutrients that potentially a shop bought fertiliser would have provided.
7. Reduce the need to water your plants. Placing the compost as a mulch round the base of plants helps the soil to retain moisture, reducing the need to water.
8. Encourage local wildlife. Composting attracts small creatures that shelter and feed on the rotting material. These then act as food for bigger creatures, particularly birds.
9. Improving the environment. Less chemical fertilisers being used reduces the risk of chemicals entering water courses. It also means that less packaging is required to be manufactured and then disposed of. All this reduces the potential for damage to the environment that we ultimately leave to the next generation.
10. It is easy! No matter what you do, the material in your bin will compost eventually. You also don't have to turn it every week. It is a natural process.
If these reasons have inspired you to give composting a go, then for more information visit the Zero Waste Scotland web site.
Alternatively you can get in touch with us on 0500 545 540 or use the link below to access the on-line contact form. We will be able to advise you.
Page & Site Tools
Contact information
For further information about this page please contact:
Waste Management
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 0500 545 540
Email: wasteservices@clacks.gov.uk
Or use the on-line contact form
