Wednesday 25 March 2015

Can I compost Giant Hogweed?




Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a very large
perennial plant that towers over a grown person, reaching up to
5 m (16 ft) in height. Giant Hogweed is a public safety hazard
due to its caustic sap.

CAUTION : - Giant Hogweed can be a serious health hazard for humans. Its clear, watery sap contains toxins that can cause severe dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). You can get severe burns if you get the sap on your skin.

For this reason we would not recommend trying to compost this plant.   Of course its a natural product so it will rot - but why take the risk? It is best left well alone, do not even try to control or burn it, this is a professional job for a professional contractor.

Welsh Food Fayre



Volunteers from Shropshire Master Composters recently attended the Welsh Food Fayre at Berriew near Welshpool on the Shropshire/Powys border.  Here volunteer Linda Sheppard from Oswestry can be seen getting up to give a live talk about composting to hundreds of people in the main food hall (very brave of her!) Well done and thanks to Linda and the other volunteers who between them spoke to over 200 people about composting and recycling your waste on the day.  Imagine if every one of them just recycled one more thing that could keep tonnes more waste out of landfill each year and save thousands of pounds! Not bad for a days work (or volunteering even!)