Compostable Waste Collection Service

Organic waste such as food and garden waste, accounts for up to 30% of household waste.  By removing this from the general household waste you will be making a significant contribution to reducing the amount of waste that is currently landfilled.  The diversion of this biomass from landfill not only saves space, but also reduces the emissions of harmful ozone depleting gasses such as methane.

As part of North Hertfordshire District Council's commitment to waste minimisation and recycling and, in response to the wishes of residents, the Council has expanded the compostable waste collection service to include food waste from the 2nd June 2008.

How the system works

The brown compost bins are collected every two weeks on the same day as your recycling box collection.  Residents are requested to place their brown bin, with the lid closed, on the boundary of their property by 7.30 am on their recycling collection week.  To order a replacement brown bin please call Veolia on 0800 3286023.

Residents who wish to compost at home are able to do so by using home compost bins or compost heaps.  For further information and the types of bins available, please refer to the Home Compost section.

What you can put in the brown bins

Residents are requested to put material directly into the brown bin as due to the composting process we are unable to take bins containing any type of bag except paper.  Even compostable bags will not necessarily compost in the same time as the garden and food waste and cardboard so we can not accept any bin with bags in other than paper bags.  Although compostable bags may be acceptable in other composting facilities, we have been instructed that they are not suitable for the facility we take our organic waste to.

The lists below detail the acceptable and non-acceptable items.

Yes please! Food waste: meat and fish, fruit and vegetable peelings, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters, egg shells, bread, food leftovers Cardboard Garden waste: grass cuttings, leaves, hedge clippings, twigs, cut flowers, pot plants without pots Other: Real Christmas trees, Yellow Pages (torn into a few parts), Financial Times newspaper, feathers, hair, pet straw, sawdust, wood shavings, straw, and anything organic that rots easily Paper bags / newspaper for wrapping

No thank you! Disposable nappies, plastic of any type, waxed packaging (e.g. drink cartons) vacuum cleaner bags and contents and anything non-organic Plastic / biodegradable / compostable / corn starch bags

What happens to compostable waste

The materials that we collect are taken to Cumberlow Green farm and converted into "Ace of Herts" soil conditioner.  This is sold through various retail outlets throughout North Hertfordshire.  Further information is available on the Cumberlow's website, alternatively you can call 01763 281223.

It is vital that no items of non-compostable material are put in your bin as this would contaminate a whole lorry load.

For further information on recycling in North Hertfordshire please visit Waste Aware or contact the Recycling Officer on 01462 474000 or email service@north-herts.gov.uk .