Pass it on! Spread your composting knowledge - Compost Awareness Week 1 - 7 May 2011

Green-fingered residents who compost their garden waste are being encouraged to share their knowledge and skills with friends and neighbours - with the help of the Royal Borough.

Pass It On is the theme of this year's Compost Awareness Week (1 - 7 May), focusing on community spirit and spreading composting and gardening knowledge - and the Royal Borough is helping to grow the idea by inviting residents to contribute their green gardening hints to a new webpage.

Good ideas, suggestions, tips and guidance that will help other gardeners - from seasoned growers to budding newcomers - should be sent to waste.unit@rbwm.gov.uk or follow the Council on Twitter and Facebook and add suggestions there.

Grant Smith, Waste Awareness Officer, and Jason Mills, Countryside Ranger, along with local volunteer compost expert Jo Greengrass will be attending Windsor and Maidenhead Farmers' Markets on Saturday and Sunday 7 and 8 May. Residents are invited to join them to pass on their green knowledge and skills to other local residents.

Craig Miller, Waste and Environmental Protection Manager, said: "Sending waste to landfill costs the council approximately £2m in tax alone. Home composting helps to keep garden and household waste out of landfill sites - and therefore helps reduce the amount of tax we pay. Good for the environment and good for people's pockets.

"Although 30% of householders are already composting at home, we would like to encourage even more to adopt it as an effective way of dealing with their food and garden waste this spring."

More than 33% of the average UK household bin contents can be effectively home composted, including tea bags, coffee grounds, shredded paper, eggshells, tissues and paper napkins. Garden waste such as grass clippings and leaves can also be home composted. For information on the perfect compost mix visit http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/wm_what_to_compost.htm

Composting is an entirely natural process and certain waste can simply be put into a compost bin and left for a few months to break down. The resulting rich and nutritious compost can improve soil, suppress weeds and improve drainage so it is ideal for flower beds, vegetable plots, patio planters, hanging baskets and window boxes.

Discounted compost bins are available to borough residents by calling 0845 1306 090 or visiting http://www.rbwm.getcomposting.com/ for further details.

Residents who are already creative composters may want to think of adding additional ingredients to the mix - scrunched-up paper or the contents of a vacuum cleaner for example.

Craig added: "It is easy to start home composting and reap the rewards. Compost Awareness Week is a great opportunity to tell all your friends and neighbours about the benefits of home composting and help make the borough a cleaner and greener place."

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