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Roses are red, violets are blue...
...and they're both compostable!
An awful attempt at a poem, but the WasteAware message is good! Best wishes for a Happy Valentine's Day, but please remember to be as waste-aware as possible. Here are our top tips...
Composting flowers and other organic materials, such as leaves and grass cuttings, reduces the amount of waste needing disposal (over 30% by weight of the contents of the average bin is kitchen and garden waste) and can produce a nutrient rich soil improver/compost for use in the garden or even in window boxes and plant pots.
It's easy to compost at home using a subsidised home composter. Do you have one? This can compost/recycle much of your garden and kitchen waste. Alternatively, each of the 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres in Hertfordshire will also accept green garden waste from your home. Where's your nearest centre? You may also be able to compost through you local district council kerbside collection.
And with around twelve million Valentine's cards sent every year in the UK, WasteAware has some other great tips to be greener:
- send a special Valentine's e-card or text message - they are good for the environment and for your pocket (especially if you have more than one secret love!);
- remember to recycle your card - or cards! - via cardboard collection services;
- look for charity cards, where you know the profits are going to a good cause.
What about that Valentine's gift? There's nothing wrong with flowers and chocolates, but there are ways of improving on the old tried and tested formulas:
- choose chocolate with the Fair Trade label - it helps communities in need and, with a higher cocoa content, tastes delicious;
- to pamper a loved one, choose cosmetics and toiletries that are organic and not tested on animals; or
- for something a bit different, dedicate a tree to a special friend and help the Woodland Trust restore the UK's native woodland heritage.
Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without a romantic meal! Here are some environmentally friendly tips for a home cooked meal:
- dine romantically by candlelight - it saves energy as well;
- buy fruit and veg loose for the meal and cut down on packaging and keep the peelings for home composting;
- sip a favourite tipple from recycled glassware, visit Recycle Now – Buy Recycled to see the great range of glasses available; and don't forget to recycle empty that bubbly bottle - or bottles!
This feature was added on 9th February 2006