The green and brown bin scheme has been going for some time but there are extra measures we took to reduce the amount of waste going into the black bin. Severn Trent’s product supplier of water butts also does food waste composters. These are small plastic containers with a handle and lid to keep smells in. I’ve been using on for a couple of months now and empty it into the garden compost bin 3 times a week. You will be amazed that how over a month or so this material composts down. The best news is that it is not bulking out the black bin.
In an attempt to help sort out recyclable waster we now have a separate plastic container in the hall for paper waste and this is emptied at the Bramcote leisure centre which also has a clothes and shoe collection bin.
Many residents, (families) on the estate have had water meters for some time and all have reported cost savings. So after doing the calculations we invested in some water butts and switched to a meter. This also enabled us to move to a monthly direct debt which removed the shock of a bi annual bill. Rain water for the garden is mostly free from the purification additives and richer in minerals so should be better for the garden. We are collecting so much water we should hook-up a pressure pump and clean the car.
Within any change of process there is a learning curve and the family are still getting to grips with what goes into what bin, but best to start young and get good habits.
Credits: Article by Tim Aikin Winter 2007 |
