Green Garden Waste
Garden waste and kitchen waste forms as much as 30% of the contents of the average household dustbin. Of this, organic waste represents one of the most difficult waste management problems in landfilling. Once in landfill, these wastes decompose anaerobically (i.e. in the absence of oxygen) and form landfill gas, primarily consisting of methane which acts as a greenhouse gas.
Decomposing organic and food wastes also contribute to leachate that accumulates in landfills. This is a toxic cocktail that has the potential to cause serious groundwater and surface water pollution.
Landfilling of biodegradable organic and food waste also represents the loss of an important resource. This is particularly the case for green waste that is ideal for producing compost. Compost from waste organic material can offset the use of peat (demand for which is currently placing peat resources in jeopardy). There is an urgent need to preserve peat bogs in the UK and the use of peat-free alternatives is a more environmentally sustainable alternative.
Composting is one of the easiest ways to return organic waste back to the environment and prevent waste. Found out how using the composting information page.
Our recycling / disposal advice
Green garden and some kitchen waste can be composted at home and the compost used to improve the quality of your garden soil.
If you would like a reduced price home compost bin please telephone the WasteAware helpline on 08457 425000 or take a look at the composting information page.
All Hertfordshire HWRCs have containers for your green garden waste if home composting is not possible, or if the material is too woody to compost at home. This material is then collected for shredding and composting at a central composting site in the County.
The following waste types are accepted for composting at HWRCs: grass cuttings, hedge clippings, prunings, weeds, leaves, plant material, soil bound roots, tree trunks and branches up to 150mm diameter.
Contaminates such as plastics, stones, cement, treated wood, metals or glass cannot be composted. These items should not be placed in the containers. At present organic kitchen waste cannot be composted at HWRCs. This is because of recent legislation (the Animal By-Products Regulation, 2003) covering the conditions that must be met in the composting of kitchen waste.
All of the HWRCs in Hertfordshire are now selling bags of 100% recycled soil improver. The soil improver is made from garden waste collected from Hertfordshire's HWRCs. Each bag is 40 litres in size and is being sold for £2.90, please ask the site operator for assistance.
Compost your Christmas tree: Household Christmas trees which have have been completely stripped of decorations can be accepted for composting at all HWRCs (but not the artificial trees!)
Download and view our How materials are recycled leaflet.
Use the search below to find where to recycle / dispose of Green Garden Waste.