Web Log

Norfolk County Council is encouraging residents preparing for Halloween fun to think green and get more from their pumpkins. More than one million pumpkins are now sold in the UK each year and carved into lanterns. After next Sasturday's (October 31) festivities, most of these will go straight in the bin and end up being sent to landfill.

With a bit of effort, pumpkins can be used to create some extra treats both before and after Halloween. Pumpkins are surprisingly versatile and with some creative cookery can be transformed into soup, cakes, pies and even lasagne. Even the seeds can be roasted. After the event, the inedible parts (the shell) can be transformed into compost to give your garden a treat next year. Adding a few autumn leaves, can help give your bin the right mix.

Ian Monson, Cabinet member for Environment and Waste, Norfolk County Council, said: "When pumpkins are sent to landfill, they break down without any oxygen and create methane - a potent greenhouse gas. By having a go at using the pumpkin for cooking, much of the waste is avoided. Composting the rest of the pumpkin at home as well is more good news for the environment, as it creates a useful compost to feed your garden."

Reduced price compost bins are available, with prices starting at just £8 including home delivery. Call 0845 077 0757 to order a bin.

For pumpkin recipe ideas and more information on how to get composting visit: www.recyclenow.org.uk/compost

Labels: recycling

What do you do with your used printer cartridges? Well, a number of charities accept printer cartridges for recycling, which they use to raise funds. One such charity is Forward+Futures based in King's Lynn. If you have any spent printer cartridges, please contact 01553 770253 and leave a message for Glynis or Barry, who can arrange collection (King's Lynn only), or provide a plastic envelope for collecting cartridges.

Forward and Futures are a charity for young adults with learning difficulties. They are also involved with the collection and composting of green waste.

Forward and Futures
Kettlewell House, Austin Fields,
King's Lynn PE30 1PW

Contact: Tim Cara, 01553 770253 or 01553 779579
Tim@forwarddaycentre.fsnet.co.uk

Labels: recycling

Labels: recycling

Are you a waste hero or do you know someone who is?

The Norfolk Waste Partnership is looking to award community organisations, social enterprises, businesses and people in Norfolk who have achieved success in reducing, reusing and recycling waste in 2007.

You may be an individual who has encouraged your next door neighbour to use their recycling bin, or perhaps you work somewhere that makes a real effort to reuse

Last year's winners included Renee, who reuses everything including her old bath water! Eminent sports car firm Lotus picked up an award for reducing its waste by 70% in the last five years.

Short listed nominees will be invited to a special evening ceremony in January 2008 at County Hall, Norwich.

If you would like to make a nomination please visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/nwpawards

Labels: recycling

Visitors to Norfolk County Council's six main recycling centres will be able to boost their green gardening credentials by buying back compost that has been made from their own garden waste.

Each year, householders bring more than 27,000 tonnes of green waste to Norfolk's recycling centres. The waste is taken away to be shredded and within 12 weeks is transformed into compost.

Ian Monson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Norfolk County Council, said: "Selling compost back to the public is just one of many improvements to our recycling centre service. Norfolk residents have an impressive record of sending their green waste for composting, and it's wonderful that it can now be returned to benefit our own gardens."

Dan Jacobs, Recycling Supervisor at Norfolk County Council, added: "Green waste is the most popular material that householders bring to Norfolk's recycling centres. We've held several green waste compost give aways in the past and they have been hugely successful, so it's great that the compost will now be available all year round."

Many environmental charities including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) promote the use of compost made from garden waste, as an alternative to peat. Gardeners that choose peat-free products are helping to preserve the unique peat bog habitats that play an important role in naturally protecting the earth from global warming.

The compost will be for sale in 40 litre bags priced £3 per bag at the six main recycling centres: Caister, Hempton, Ketteringham, King's Lynn, Mayton Wood and Thetford, plus Wells-next-the-sea. Payment can be made by cash or debit/credit card.

The compost is made by Organic Resource Management (ORM) who process some of the green waste from Norfolk's recycling at plants in King's Lynn and Edgefield.

For more information on Norfolk's recycling centres call 0844 800 8004 or visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/recycling

Labels: recycling