17. Dec, 2018

Composting Christmas waste

Having already published a blog on Christmas Food Waste I am now updating the information on composting other Christmas waste.

Composting Other Christmas Waste

Corks

Natural corks can be composted but will take a time to break down and might need returning to the bin for a second session when the compost is harvested.

Christmas cards

If the card looks as if it contains plastic or laminated materials do a scrunch test. If it does not stay scrunched the card cannot be composted or recycled. Some cards will have glitter added (see below) this should be sent to landfill but the backs of paper Christmas cards without a coating or glitter can be composted or added to the L.A. bag or box recycling collection.More information at Carryoncomposting Christmas waste.

Christmas trees

Christmas trees can be composted but it is advisable to shred them first to increase the surface area exposed to the composting microbes and speed decomposition. If a shredder is not available branches can be cut into small “thumb” size pieces but these will be slow to compost and it is easier donate the tree to the Local Authority to be shredded into chippings which are then used locally in parks.More information on the main website

Pine needles can be composted or turned to leafmold but they will be slow to decompose and any significant quantities are bested treated separately form deciduous leaves.

Unfortunately, artificial trees, most of which are made from the dreaded PVC plastic, face only one possible destination when their final day arrives: The landfill. If you have an artificial tree, the best thing to do is use it as many seasons as possible, or donate it to someone else who will.

Gift tags etc

Tags made from card can be cut up and composted having first removed any plastic ties. Plastic or foil tags will not compost.

Electronics

Electronic items may not immediately come to mind as being Christmas waste but so many people get new electronic items at Christmas gifts large numbers of electrical items are disposed of immediately after the festive season. Use any upcycling services in your area if not most recycling centres will have a separate are for working electrical items

Ribbons and decorations

Ribbons, bows may be made of natural fibres in which case they can be composted but many will contain foil or plastic and cannot be composted or recycled.

Cardboard

Cardboard, particularly corrugated boxes, are an excellent source of carbon rich “browns” they should be torn or cut into smallish pieces and scrunched up when added to the bin.

Paper napkins and party hats from the crackers can be composted

Wrapping paper and boxes

Paper and card are a good source of “browns” and can help create air pockets to the compost bin. Plastic tape should be removed from the wrapping or envelopes as the tape does not breakdown during composting. Some paper and cards willcontain plastic or laminated materials these cannot be composted or recycled. Scrunch the item up in your hand. If it stays 'scrunched' it can be composted or recycled.

Wreaths

Christmas wreaths made from plant materials can be composted after the any glue, plastic and wiring are removed. If leaves have been coated with glitter discard them to landfill . Most council will accept “clean” Christmas wreaths as garden waste..

Wood ash from open fires or wood burners can be composted.

Cocktail sticks although small can be added to the bin. To avoid pets trying to eat them and injuring themselves put the sticks into a container and empty it directly into the kitchen caddy

Holly, ivy and mistletoe can be composted,

Glitter

Large numbers of Christmas items are decorated with glitter, including from cards, wrapping paper and decorations. Most of the glitter contains microplastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) do not compost or recycle items containing glitter put into a sealed container such as a plastic bag that is being binned anyway the landfill collection system and do not buy any next year.

The good news is that there is now Biodegradable glitter that is made from a certified compostable film that adheres to the European (EN13432) and the American (ASTM D6400) standards.
EDetaiks at www. Carryoncomposting Christmas waste

Paper Chains

If you have made paper chains they ,can be composted. Paper chains with prints or colours are not ideal for recycling and are probably best off in the compost bin.

Baubles Aren’t Usually Recyclable

Glass baubles are not suitable for the blue bin and will need to be wrapped up and placed in a normal black bin if they break. Plastic baubles, unless labelled recyclable, will not be suitable for the blue bin so you may have to throw broken ones away in the normal black bin.

13. Dec, 2018

Work starts on new Compost demonstration site

The first batch of compost bins have been moved to the new composting demonstration site at Stokes Wood Allotments Leicester. Once the formalities have been completed further bins and wormeries will be used to compost waste, that is currently being burned, from the allotments and catering waste from the breakfast club. More information to follow once permissions are granted for the site. The new facility will allow us to hold a programme of composting workshops and activities for schools throughout the year. The new site would not be possible without the support of Stokes Wood Allotment Society and the National Allotment Society (NAS) Leicester. While the Compost site will not be open until the spring visitors are welcome to drop in and enjoy a cooked breakfast on Wednesday mornings. The photo shows the first bins in position.

If you're interested in a plot at Stokes Wood, please use this link for the Council's allotments enquiry form. They will let you know as soon as a plot becomes free. http://bit.ly/15T0x6i

19. Nov, 2018

Christmas Food Gusto in Ashby. Composting stall

Food Gusto Ashby Christmas Fair

Join us on Saturday 1st December at the Ashby Christmas Fair where there will be, in addition to our Composting Stall, some of the region’s best Food & Drink Producers as well as selected Artisans Crafts.

Hot food is available, so you can dine out on anything from Organic Beef, Burgers & Sausages, Charcoal Grilled Chicken, Samosas to Thai, Wood Fired Pizza and freshly made Crepes. This can be washed down with a Local Cider, English Wine, Specialist Spirit, Hot Chocolate, Specialist Tea or Barista Coffee.

There is a good range of products on sale, including Samosas and Pakoras, artisan cheese, assorted home baked cakes including – Cupcakes, traybakes, cake slices and large cakes, award winning Melton Mowbray pies, donuts, popcorn, candy floss, fantastic fresh cookies, handmade chopping boards and kitchen equipment, home crafted garden furniture, homemade truffles, caramels, sweet cones and novelty chocolates, local handmade fudge, local honey, crepes, olives, nuts and baklavas, pick and mix cheese, rare breed meats, and even Vegan and Vegetarian cooking.

Drinks will include artisan coffee, milk shakes and smoothies, Buzzard Valley wines grown in Staffordshire, distinctive London Gins, farm produced cider, flavoured liqueurs, Gin, Vodka and sparkling gold bubbly. There will be live community entertainment programme including Elsa & Anna coupled with a range of kids rides and Santa, as well as more entertainment

As it is a Christmas event the compost team, we will be in a seasonal mood drawing attention to the food wasted at Christmas. This is equivalent to 263,00 turkeys, 17.2 million sprouts, 11.9 million carrots and 7.4 million mince pies. We will have free recipes for turning leftovers into appetising meals as well as details of food composters.

Where is it held?

The Ashby Christmas Fair is held on the 1st & 2nd of December (we will not be there on the Sunday) in Ashby on Lower Market Street, with stalls opening from 10.30am to 5.00pm on Saturday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. Set the postcode LE65 1AF in your satnav there will be parking in various Council Car Parks in the town.

9. Nov, 2018

Preparing for the Christmas Food Waste

Now that the waste generated by Halloween has been cleared away, we should start planning for Christmas, a festival which results in even more food waste. In the UK it is estimated that nearly 10 per cent of every festive meal is wasted. This is valued at about £64million. About a third of diners admit to wasting some of their Christmas dinner.

We waste the equivalent to 263,000 turkeys, 17.2 million Brussels sprouts. 11.9 million carrots, 11.3 million roast potatoes, 6 million pigs in blankets and 740,000 slices of Christmas pudding not forgetting 7.4 million mince pies. The festival is completed by discarding 250 tonnes of Christmas Trees in January but we will look at this in a later blog.

Plan now for Christmas food waste composting

The key message to reduce Christmas food waste is by buying only what is needed and cooking leftovers. As always, the key message is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle but as a composting website our message is home compost your waste where possible. This covers all “unavoidable” food waste including cooked food.

Now is the time to plan to extend the range of food waste that can compost at home by adding a food compost bin to our Christmas list or by buying one as a December treat. Depending on your needs and resources one of the following three bins can take your cooked food waste including bones plus garden waste.

Green Johanna

I have used a Green Johanna, both at home and on our Demonstration sites, for eight or nine years. All Christmas food waste can be composted as well as garden waste. A winter jacket can be purchased separately to keep it working when the average outdoor temperature drops below 5°C but I tend to wrap mine in several layers of bubble wrap. Price approx £120

Hotbin

I had two Hotbins in use at the Demonstration sites using them mainly to compost waste food from the cafe. They are well insulated so ideal for winter use and it is relatively easy to maintain a compost temperature of 40-55C provided they are fed regularly. I use woodchip as the main bulking agent but also add shredded paper to help absorb the moisture. Approx price £185

Jorraform 125

The Joraform compost tumblers are the expensive but are excellent for food composting being quick and easy of use. I used mine to compost waste food from the Demonstration site cafe. They have a rust proof galvanized steel construction insulated with polyethylene. Wood pellets or wood shavings are recommended as a bulking agent, but I use wood chip which is available for free locally. I have used one of these bins for about seven years. Being a tombola drum shaped tumbler system, they are easy to aerate. Approx. price £349

More information on Christmas composting is on the website and will follow on this Blog during December

1. Nov, 2018

Composting Fireworks and Halloween pumpkins

As 5^th November is almost on us it is a good time to advise against composting used fireworks. While the firework cases consist of card and paper the gunpowder and colouring material that was in them includes heavy metals which are not a helpful addition to the compost bin. It is true that if any remaining contents are emptied from the used fireworks and the cardboard casing is opened, and scraped to remove the final particles, the cardboard could be added to the compost heap. This would then leave you with the “dust” to dispose of.

However, just because something can be composted it does not mean it should be. The official advice is that fireworks should be left for at least 15 minutes after the display ends and then be collected and put in a bucket of water to soak overnight. They can then be put in the general waste (landfill) bin for collection by the council. Some sources recommend double wrapping the wet fireworks in a plastic bag before putting them in the bin.

If the fireworks misfired or are only partially spent soak them in a bucket of water for at least 24 hours and contact your local Council or local fire services for advice about safe disposal. Information will probably be available on the Council website.

For advice on composting Halloween lanterns see the Blog for 13st August