A great garden doesn't have to cost the earth!

As residents in Rochdale get their gardens prepared for spring, Recycle Now and Rochdale Borough Council have joined up for the third year to promote the benefits of home composting.

The scheme, which launched in Rochdale in 2006, aims to encourage residents to compost more at home by offering tips, advice and cheaper compost bins, has proved a huge success with Rochdale residents.

In order to offer support to residents Rochdale Borough Council's recycling team will be holding a composting roadshow at Hollingworth Lake visitor centre today (Wednesday 7 May) from 10 am to 2pm.

Andy Shaw, Recycling Manager for Rochdale Borough Council, said: "Home Composting is still one of the best ways to help the environment on a daily basis, and is something that can be quickly incorporated into your regular kitchen and garden habits. For instance, it's not just grass cuttings that can go into your compost bin: you can also add scrunched up cardboard, teabags, vegetable peeling and coffee granules - even shredded confidential documents."

Mr Shaw added: "Spring is a great time to start composting, as it's a good time to get into the garden as the weather starts improving. While the garden may have been lying dormant over the winter months, this is a time it may be starting to look more welcoming. Why not take the opportunity to clear out any garden debris from the winter months, and use this garden waste to give your compost bin a kick-start for the new season? And if you don't already have a compost bin, there couldn't be a better time to get started."

Composting at home is a great way of providing a free, nutrient rich fertiliser for your garden - but it's also an easy way to do your own bit for the environment from the comfort of your own home. When organic waste is put into your black bin bag, it gets taken to landfill, and when it rots down it produces methane, which are greenhouse gases. By recycling this waste at home in your compost bin, the same waste breaks down in environmentally friendly way and can then be used again to keep your garden green and looking fantastic.

Bins are available to the borough's residents for £17, £20 and £40 including free delivery by contacting 0845 077 0757 or visiting:

• www.recyclenow.com/compost

Date article online: 07/05/2008