Centralised Composting
The facts in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
- In 2008/09 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough helped divert 103,486 tonnes of material from landfill by composting their waste through kerbside collections and at local recycling centres
- Composted material accounted for over 27% of household waste in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough in 2008/09
- According to a recent analysis on household in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 23% of all household waste generated is kitchen organic waste (cooked and uncooked kitchen waste) and 18% is garden organic waste
- All residents in Cambridgeshire (but not Peterborough) can compost ALL their food waste including raw and cooked meat and bones, through their kerbside organic waste collections
- According to the same analysis, residents in Cambridgeshire, who are able to compost all their kitchen organic waste through their kerbside compost collection, are only composting 21% of it. 78% of kitchen organic waste, generated in Cambridgeshire, which could be composted, is instead being sent to landfill! - Could you do more?
Why should I use my kerbside collection for organic waste?
Using your kerbside collection to compost is important for several reasons. Not only will it save space in our local landfill sites but you are helping to create compost, a useful product.
All bio-degradable materials (garden and food waste, paper and cardboard, natural textiles, wood and tissues) when sent to landfill generates methane gas when they rot. Methane is a powerful green house gas (20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide) and therefore contributes to climate change. Composting prevents this. The same benefits apply to home composting.
Is there a composting collection where I live?
Yes but the collections do vary depending on where you live:
- Cambridge City: Green bin or brown sack for food and garden waste
- East Cambridgeshire: Brown sacks for food and garden waste
- Fenland District: Brown bin or sack for food and garden waste
- Huntingdonshire District: Green bin or brown sack for food and garden waste
- Peterborough City: Brown bin for garden waste only
- South Cambridgeshire: Green bin or brown sack for food and garden waste
Find out more about composting collections in your area.
What happens to my garden and food waste?
The material taken to recycling centres and put into your kerbside collections is sent to a centralised composting site.
There are two types of composting methods, enclosed (in-vessel) and open (windrow). We have two enclosed sites in Cambridgeshire (Ellington and Watebeach) and one windrow in Peterborough (Dogsthorpe). The enclosed compost sites are specially designed to compost food and garden waste whereas windrow is traditionally garden waste only.
Windrow composting involves several large, long-heaps ranging from fresh garden cuttings to brown compost. Each heap is turned as the garden waste gradually breaks down to form compost. As the material composts, a lot of heat is generated (40 – 50 degrees Celsius), which helps the process.
The in-vessel method can compost materials more quickly. Materials are put into giant enclosed heaps with strict controls on moisture and temperature, which help speed up the process. The compost can reach temperatures over 60 degrees Celsius.
When it is ready it is bagged and sold at local garden centres, or is made available direct from the composting contractors.
For more information, call Donarbon at Waterbeach, on 01223 861010 or Marshall in Ellington, near Huntingdon, on 01480 810431.
