GEORGE NEWS - Approximately 50 George residents attended a presentation on how to start their own compost bin and worm farm at the Garden Route Botanical Garden last Wednesday, 10 April. The residents are taking part in a household composting pilot project with the ultimate aim of reducing the amount of household waste disposed of at the landfill site. The project is jointly initiated by George Municipality and the Garden Route District Municipality.
According to Johan Gie, a representative of the Garden Route District Municipality, who did the presentation, approximately 30% of all household waste consists of organic waste that could potentially be diverted from the landfill by means of household composting. Data collected by the project will be used to motivate the extension of the project to all households in the George municipal area.
All of the selected participants generate kitchen waste, such as raw vegetable and fruit waste, and have green waste that is generated from their gardens. They received composting bins and worm farming bins to start off and must weigh the waste generated and keep statistics for one year. Composting has various benefits.
Besides reducing waste to the landfill site, it is a natural alternative to chemical fertiliser, acts as a soil conditioner that helps to retain moisture in the soil and saves money. Worm farms are a little more complicated than composting, with certain flavours the worms don't like, such as citrus and other acidic food, garlic and onion families.
People who want to start their own composting bin or worm farm can contact Johan Gie at the Garden Route District Municipality on 044 803 1300 for more information.
Residents and officials with some of the composting bins and worm farms that were distributed during the pilot project.
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