The Composting Association, which represents the interests of its members in the compost industry, is sending out posters, leaflets and packets of promotional sunflower seeds to those organising events – including local authorities for the week which runs from May 2-8.
It is joining forces with national DIY retailer FOCUS, to provide in-store information for consumers in more than 400 stores. Jane Gilbert, chief executive of the Composting Association, said “People are becoming increasingly aware of the need to adopt a more resourceful approach to waste disposal. This initiative will help them get involved so that they see the benefits of composting not just during the week, but long term.”
TV gardener Monty Don, is supporting the campaign with the slogan 'Ca;ll yourself a gardener and you don't make your own compost?'. He wants as many gardeners as possible to be using compost.
“Not only does composting create a valuable resource, it also is the best way to solve the growing problem of landfill. It is the easiest way of working for our environment and every gardener and council should make compost,” Mr Don says.
Eighty percent of household waste currently goes to landfill and the EU Landfill Directive requires the UK to reduce this dramatically within the next decade or fines of millions of pounds could be levied on the government and potentially passed down to local authorities. The Association believes that roughly 40% of municipal waste is suitable for composting.
The week was originally launched by the Canadian Composting Council in 1995 and was brought to the UK by the CA in 2001. Now in its fourth year it has become the focal point for local authority and the composting industries' promotional activities.
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