Roadshow inspires Devon to 'get composting'

Residents from across Devon have been inspired to recycle more food thanks to a series of composting roadshows.

More than 1,000 pledges to recycle food waste were made by residents visiting one of the 11 road shows across Devon.

Composting is the most effective way to reduce waste - at least 30% of the contents in an average household bin can be composted.

The roadshows, run by Recycle Devon, aimed to inspire more people to either compost food or garden waste at home,  or make use of their food waste collection in areas where they have one.

The 600 people who attended the events had the opportunity to ask the experts for some top tips on composting and to buy a discounted composting bin.

As well as receiving some one-to-one advice, visitors were also given the chance to win a hamper packed full of food and gardening goodies including food waste gadgets and tasty Devon produce, in a prize draw.

To enter all you had to do was use your food waste collection service, sign up to the Recycle Devon e-newsletter or sign a pledge to compost.

Composting at home over 12 months can reduce carbon emissions equivalent to that produced by a kettle in a year or a washing machine over three months.

The winner of the draw was Haley Corber, from Tiverton, who pledged to reduce her food waste and make her own compost at home.

Hayley Corber said: “As a busy family of five we have always been keen recyclers, but I had never considered composting at home until I saw your stand at The Tiverton Pannier Market.

"It certainly inspired me and we are pleased to have reduced our waste further.

“We are thoroughly looking forward to using our own free, organic compost next spring, as we have a large garden with fruit trees, rhubarb, raspberries and like to grow our own vegetables. It was a lovely surprise to learn I had won the hamper.”

Councillor Duncan Wood, chairman of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, said: “Composting things like fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, grass clippings and fallen leaves makes for a healthy garden and a healthy planet.

“Not only does it help your garden grow,  it saves you money on buying fertiliser and can reduce the amount of rubbish created by a household by up to 30%.

“I’m delighted that people like Hayley are recognising the benefits of composting and I hope her example inspires more people to do the same.”

Councillor Ray Radford, Mid Devon District Council's Ward Member for Halberton and the chairman of Devon County Council, said: "I am delighted that a resident from Mid Devon has won this hamper and I hope that Hayley's enthusiasm for composting rubs off on other people.

"Recycling is so important as it reduces the amount of waste that has to be disposed of."