Information on Loughborough

Brown Bins In Loughborough

Posted on 10/07/2008

wheelie bins

NICK Lymn-Brewin would hardly describe himself as a keen gardener - but there’s one thing that makes his job so much easier.

The 47-year-old signed up to Charnwood Borough Council’s garden waste collection scheme two years ago - and he says the brown bin helps reduce the amount of time it takes to maintain his Loughborough garden.

And when he comes to renew his annual subscription, Nick says he will pay buy direct debit - meaning it will cost him only £15 a year, or 60p per fortnightly collection, instead of £26.

He said: “I think the Brown Bin scheme is a brilliant idea - it just makes things a lot easier as I find it a right pain in the neck going down to the tip with grass cuttings.

“We have quite a big garden but I wouldn’t say I was a keen gardener - I do it because I have to!

“We’re pleased with the service that we get - it’s well worth the money.

“I haven’t got anywhere to put a composter which is why the brown bin is an excellent alternative.

“£15 per year is real value for money and I’ll definitely be signing up to pay by direct debit when my subscription is up for renewal.”

So far, more than 2,600 Charnwood residents have signed up to the Garden Waste scheme since the price was reduced for people paying by direct debit.

It means almost 17,000 households currently subscribe to the scheme, which collects 4,800 tonnes of garden waste for composting annually.

 

Garden waste collected from Charnwood residents is taken to the Lount composting facility, located in North West Leicestershire.

There it is checked for contamination and quality before it is shredded and formed into windrows, which are large ‘toblerone’ shaped heaps about 3m high and 10m long.

These are open to the elements which make ideal conditions for composting to occur, allowing the naturally-occurring microbes to grow and break down the waste.

The composting process takes about 14 weeks, after which the compost is screened to remove any final unwanted material.

 

What is left is a final 10mm grade high-quality compost, which is independently analysed to ensure it meets quality standards before it is used.

 

The final product is sold at Leicestershire’s recycling and household waste sites and has also been used on large landscaping projects.

 

Cllr Mike Preston, Charnwood’s Cabinet member for Environment, added: “It’s fantastic to see so many people signing up to the garden waste scheme.

 

“It’s the easiest, hassle-free way to get rid of your grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, weeds plus old garden and house plants and you know it’s going towards making a high-quality compost.”

 

To sign up for the garden waste service, call Loughborough (01509) 634 563, log on to www.charnwood.gov.uk/environment/recyclingcollectionservice.html