Feed your garden and close the circle

The new deal is a move toward fairness for all, as the council has created a single arrangement across its three reuse and recycling centres that allows residents to collect Croypost free of charge - and, it is hoped, help ensure the borough is alive with vivid colour for this year's Croydon in Bloom competition.

Under the new terms, each resident who takes two bags of materials to any of the centres for recycling can take away three bags of compost free of charge. The bags must be similar in size to a bin liner and must be supplied by the resident.

The previous policy, which saw a different arrangement at each centre, was thought unfair, so the council has made Croypost available free of charge at all the sites.

Councillor Phil Thomas, cabinet member for environment and highways, said: "What could be better? Not only do residents see their green garden waste collected from their homes, they can now get free bags of compost to help feed their gardens and patio planters.

"There really can be no reason for the borough's gardeners not to produce a stunning show of gardening experience and colour for this year's Croydon in Bloom competition.

"As well as that, of course, there are the huge environmental gains, that benefit gardeners and non-gardeners alike, to seeing green waste being given a new lease of life - and it saves residents' money because they're not having to buy commercial brands of compost.

"In this case, everybody really is a winner."

By using the new fortnightly green garden waste collection service, residents will notice a large drop in the amount of waste put out each week for collection.

Green waste makes up around 30% of the average household's refuse, and recycling it will help bring about:

• a reduction in the generation of climate-changing gases such as methane, produced when organic matter does not break down naturally in a landfill site
• a reduction in the generation of leachate liquid, which can pollute water courses when washed out from landfill sites
• a reduction in the use of peat-based compost, which will protect rich and diverse wildlife habitats from destruction
• a reduced need for chemicals and artificial fertilizers, which will protect soil and wildlife
• an increase in the lifespan of existing landfill sites, reducing the need for more.

Council and democracy