GEORGE NEWS - George residents can turn their kitchen and garden waste into something useful, with the municipality offering free home composting bins to permanent residents within the George municipal area.
The initiative aims to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill while helping households produce nutrient-rich compost for their gardens.
Composting is a relatively simple way for households to deal with some of their everyday waste. Fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells and grass cuttings can be transformed into organic material that helps replenish soil and support healthier plant growth.
It can also help extend the lifespan of municipal landfill sites by keeping organic material out of the waste stream.
What can go into a home compost bin?
Residents interested in applying should have a regular supply of suitable organic material.
According to George Municipality, suitable items include:
- Raw fruit and vegetable peelings;
- Eggshells; and
- Grass cuttings.
However, not everything that looks like organic waste belongs in a home compost bin.
Residents should not add meat or meat products, oils, fats or grease, diseased plant material, sawdust or woodchips from treated wood, dog or cat faeces, weeds containing seeds, dairy products, coal ash, cooked food, nappies or used tissues.
Glossy or coloured paper should also be kept out of the compost.
Why compost at home?
Apart from reducing household waste, composting can improve the quality of garden soil by adding organic matter and nutrients.
Healthy compost can help soil retain moisture, support plant growth and create a more productive garden. It also provides a practical way for households to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.
For gardeners, it is essentially a way of turning some of the waste produced at home into a resource for the garden.
Who can apply?
The free composting bins are available to permanent residents of the George municipal area.
Applicants must submit a completed application form together with proof of residence.
Application forms can be downloaded from the George Municipality website or collected in person from the George Environmental Services Municipal Offices at 82 Meade Street, George.
Completed applications and proof of residence can be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected].
For more information about the programme, residents can contact George Municipality on 044 802 2900.
The municipality also provides a home composting guideline for residents who would like to learn more about setting up and maintaining a compost bin.
For George households looking for a practical way to cut down on waste while giving their gardens a boost, a home compost bin could be a useful place to start.
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