Recycling organic materials for garden use is straightforward, is good for the environment and will save money by producing compost for mulching and soil conditioning. So why are so few gardeners doing it? asks Jon Pickering

Above: The secret of effective composting is to use a mixture of materials, including those rich in nitrogen such as vegetable waste and others high in carbon such as woody prunings. Most garden heaps are built up in layers (photograph by John Glover)

The amount of waste we are producing is increasing. Now, more than ever, it is important to find ways to dispose of it safely and efficiently. Preventing rubbish entering the waste stream in the first place is the best option, but if this is not possible, recycling is an alternative, and gardeners are in an excellent position to participate. By recycling their garden waste, kitchen leftovers and even paper and card, they can reduce the amount of refuse they throw away and at the same time provide themselves with a regular, free supply of eco-friendly organic matter to improve their soil and mulch their plants.

Motivation to recycle
The population of the UK produces approximately 2.3 million tonnes of municipal waste each year (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions [DETR], 1996-7 figures). Approximately half of this is biodegradable, comprising food and garden refuse (about 20 percent) and paper and packaging (about 30 percent). Less than 10 percent of the total is currently recycled; the remainder is buried in landfill, or incinerated. The effects of the Landfill Tax, which charges firms and local authorities for the volumes of waste they send to landfill, has given recycling a boost but its full impact is yet to be determined.

At the same time, the UK gardening public buys about 2.7 million cubic metres (3.5m cu yd) of growing media, soil conditioners and mulch annually (1997 DETR figures), most of which is based on peat. There will always be a market for composts and improvers, but a high proportion could be made, free of charge, by recycling what is thrown out of gardens and homes.

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