New commercial composting facility planned for Oswestry

Planning permission has been granted for a new in-vessel 14,000 tonne a year composting facility to be developed on land at Brookfield Farm near Oswestry. 

The site in question already composts green garden waste from households in the Oswestry area and has done so for a number of years under contract to the local council since 2003.  These new plans propose to enhance the existing facility so that In-Vessel composting can take place on the site. This is essentially industrial  composting which takes place within enclosed steel containers allowing for a much hotter composting process.  The reason for this is to allow food waste to be composted at high temperatures thus killing off any nasty bacteria like salmonella and e-coli which may be present on the food waste.

The waste would be tipped within an indoor large steel agricultural style building.  Stockpiling, shredding and blending and loading of wastes into large steel containers would take place out of site and under cover within this building.  The sealed vessels will then be wheeled to a designated area within the external rear yard where primary composting operations would be undertaken.  The composting wastes would be aerated by a forced-air system.  Exhaust air would be extracted from the vessel by a fan and passed through the biofiltration system.  Temperature would be monitored and controlled.  The system would enable the temperature to reach 65°c for a period of 2 days, as required by Animal Byproducts Regulations. Once the initial phase has been completed, the vessels would be wheeled into the maturation building and the material would be formed into piles to undergo stabilisation and maturation. The piles would be monitored and once temperatures have fallen to a relatively constant level, the material would be screened within the screening shed. 

It is intended that compost is produced to PAS100 standard, the nationally recognised quality standard for compost. This will ensure that compost produced is no longer classed as a waste, and will allow the resulting compost to be sold as a product to local horticultural and agricultural outlets.  The majority of the compost produced would continue to be used on site, to be spread on the farm land as a soil improver.

Saving water in the garden

Top Ten Water Saving Tips for the Garden

It is possible to garden and save water - just follow our handy tips.

1. Become a fan of the can

Your hosepipe or sprinkler can use as much water in one hour as a family of four in a whole day so get back to basics and swap your hose for a watering can filled with water from your water butt when watering your garden!

2. Be cool

Try to water in the cool of the evening or very early morning. That way less water will be lost immediately to evaporation. Direct the flow to the roots - not the leaves - to give the plants a maximum benefit.

3. Mulch ado about something

Mulches such as pebbles, gravel and chipped bark require low maintenance and are perfect for keeping moisture in and weeds out.

4. Don't hang around

Go easy on hanging baskets and small pots in summer; large containers are easier to keep watered and, plant for plant, use less water. Use moisture retaining crystals mixed with your compost to make an easy way of watering and reduce evaporation.

5. Let it go brown

Set your mower on a higher setting and don't cut the lawn too often - longer grass retains moisture better. Lawns don't need watering - a brown lawn soon recovers after a rain.

6. Around we go!

Water around plants, not over them, to reduce evaporation loss. Water less often but give the plants a good soak when you do, to encourage deeper rooting and sturdier plants.

7. Water Efficient Plants

Plants are an essential part to the beauty of any garden. By combining water saving measures with a careful selection of plants, trees and shrubs, you can save yourself water and hard graft and sit back and enjoy your green haven.

8. Spoil the Soil

Cultivate the soil deeply and dig in large quantities of organic matter to improve soil structure, soil water retention and water availability for plants. Well-rotted garden compost, composted bark and well-rotted farmyard manure are good to use.

9. Small is better

Plant things when they are small because they will develop much greater resilience as they adapt to their conditions from a young age. Ideally plant in the autumn so they can do some growing before the dry season arrives.

10. Unravel with Gravel

Gravel gardens are easy to maintain and require less watering, since you do not have a lawn.

11. Use your butt whenever possible!(One extra for luck)

Plants love rain water, so make sure to use it whenever you need to water any of your plants. You can buy them from Severn Trent with a special offer, Buy One Get One Half Price.

This article was sponsored by Severn Trent Water

 

Composting Ragwort

When we're out and about educating the public about home composting we sometimes get asked about Ragwort.   Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a specified weed under the Weeds Act 1959.  This is because although Ragwort is a beautiful yellow flowering plant but it does grow "like a weed" and it is a concern to people because it can be poisonous to horses. 

You can often identify Ragwort by the multi petal bright yellow flowers and also by the likely presence of the Cinnabar Moth caterpillars (as seen on the photo) which feast on the plant and deliberately take up its toxins to use as a deterrent to stop birds from eating them.

In terms of composting you can compost Ragwort, yes – of course as a plant it will rot down and form compost - but we suggest only really in small amounts and with caution.  The amount you are likely to come across in your domestic garden should not be a problem.  You should consider your surroundings e.g. if your garden backs onto a horse paddock then you may consider this not worth the risk.  We recommend wearing gloves and handling with care when adding to your compost bin.  We suggest using a compost bin with a lid, because it is sealed unit this will minimise any potential risk of seeds spreading as the plant dries out. 


Like with many poisonous plants the toxins will completely breakdown in composting process and so the finished compost is perfectly fine to use afterwards but you just need to avoid contact with your skin and of course don’t ingest any of the plant (in the unlikely even you decide to eat some!) because Ragwort contains toxins that can be harmful to humans and very harmful potentially even fatal to horses. 

The other concern is that is spreads "like a weed" so if you arent careful you can encourage more growth when your remove it.  The thing to do with Ragwort is pick it before it goes to seed, when the flowers are still yellow.  If you pull it up by the root completely it comes up quite easily and this should ensure it doesnt come back.  Then simply add to your compost bin along with your kitchen peelings, tea bags, grass cuttings, junk mail, cardboard boxes etc and it will rot down in a few months to form good compost.

If you are unsure – follow this link to DEFRA ragwort guide: http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb11050-ragwort-dispose-110315.pdf

Composting Ivy

When we are out promoting home composting with Shropshire Master Composters we sometimes get asked if it is OK to compost Ivy.

Well, yes of course its a plant, so technically it will rot and it will break down to form a soil like substance we know as compost which is rich in nutrients.  However if you add lots of ivy to your home compost heap you will likely find that it continues to grow in the heap and can spread to areas where you use the compost afterwards which is not desirable.

So the answer is really 'Yes, but with caution'.  To avoid Ivy taking over your compost heap it is best to kill it off first simply leave it to dry out in the sun for atleast a fortnight.

Another approach is to rot it down separately in a tied black bin bag which starves it of air and sort of sweats it down and cooks it and effectively starts it rotting down.  Leave it for a month then add it the mushed up contents to the compost heap when it's mush. 

Food waste prevention advice

In the UK it’s fair to say that we waste far too much food. Recent research suggests that we throw away around a staggering 20% of all the food that we buy.  Not to mention the wastage, financially it is costing the average household up to £450 a year!  

With our busy lives it can be hard to shop wisely and prepare fresh food. However, by making just a few small changes you are likely to see the size of your bin shrink. 

Here are some ideas to get started.

1. Get Acquainted with Your Freezer

A freezer is the answer to your prayers if you’re trying to cut down on waste and slim down your shopping budget (and maybe yourself!). By using your freezer you can keep loads of food that could have otherwise gone off and you can cook meals in advance.

It’s often handy to freeze bread as if you live alone or with just one other person you might well struggle to get through a whole loaf before bits of it start to go green and furry.

You can also freeze some fruits and vegetables, which is great as these are prime candidates for getting thrown out because they’re past their best. Frozen bananas that are on the turn are great for baking, especially for banana bread. Frozen strawberries or raspberries are great for having on hand to whip up a smoothie. Frozen vegetables will keep in the fridge for making soups, even if they are cooked leftovers from meals.

You can even freeze leftover wine (if there is any!) for cooking. Freeze it in ice cube trays and just drop it in the pan for any dishes that call for wine.

If you’re cooking something like a bolognese sauce o. r curry, cook extra and freeze it in portions. This will be very handy for nights when you can’t be bothered cooking and should weaken the pull of the takeaway outlet.

2. Plan Ahead

Shopping wisely is key to cutting down on your food waste. Writing a list might seem a bit dull but it’s a surefire way to shop in an organised way. Write a meal plan for one or two weeks and then only buy the ingredients you need for those meals. You might end up getting a few extras and treats but so much less than if you just shop haphazardly.

3. Less Packaging

Buying food with less packaging obviously reduces packaging waste but it can also cut down on food waste. By buying loose foods such as fruit, meat and even rice and pasta (from weigh houses) you can buy just what you need, rather than having to buy a large pack that you’ll never get through.

4. Get Creative!

Using up the leftovers that you have can be a good way to come up with new recipes. For one night of the week have a “fridge clear out” meal. It might not sound too appetizing but some families come up with their favourite new recipes that way!

Try interesting pasta sauces, soups, curries and pies. If you look online many recipe sites let you search by ingredient so this is a good way to get inspiration.

For starters some great ones can be found on www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Minsterley Show 2012

Volunteers from Shropshire Master Composters were out and about this weekend promoting home composting at the annual Minsterley Show.  

The event which has been running for over one hundred years is one of Shropshire premier agricultural shows  and attracts thousands of visitors each year. 

 Visitor numbers were up at Minsterley Show on Saturday as the 137th annual extravaganza attracted more people than the 13,000 who went last year – taking advantage of the afternoon summer sunshine.  We were really lucky with the weather and the day was really successful as we spoke to over 200 visitors to our stand on the day most of whom were extremely enthusiastic about composting and recycling.

For more information on this event visit http://www.minsterleyshow.org.uk

For more information on Shropshire Master Composter visit www.shropshirecomposters.co.uk 

A big thanks to the numerous volunteers who gave up their time this weekend to make this possible.  Lets hope it encourages more people in Shropshire to get composting

Turing Sunflowers

You may be aware that the Museum of Science Industry in Manchester and the Manchester Science Festival are running what they are calling ‘the experiment of the year’ aimed at encouraging schools, community groups and workplaces to grow sunflowers and then explore the mathematical questions that Turing grappled with as part of his work on patterns and coding. See:

http://www.turingsunflowers.com/about/why

for more information.

The website offers growing tips, but is also going to create an online community for those engaged with the project. We thought you might be interested in case this was an opportunity for your local school or group.