The council's initiative, to provide compost kits free of charge to peoples' homes and educate them in the benefits of recycling through a specialised helpline, has enjoyed “colossal success”, says council officer Martin Crabtree. In the 18 months since its launch, the public's response has exceeded expectations with over 60,000 requests for composting kits.
To compliment the advantages of composting door-to-door, the council has looked at more regional solutions, focusing on its recycling centres. There are currently 23 household waste recycling centres located around the Lancashire area which have been equipped with specialist green waste skips. The council hopes that the combined strategies will encourage people to optimise their household recycling, as around 30% of a typical Lancashire bin is thought to be easily compostable.
The preliminary figure of 20% for the recycling rate for 2002, reflects the council's determination to address the problem. Initiatives aimed at the young, such as the recently launched Environ CD Rom, are helping to ensure that composting is being encouraged at an early age.
Environ, an environmental superhero teaching children of the benefits of composting through a variety of tasks, is the central character on the program developed with cash from the Lancashire Environment fund. It is hoped that the CD Rom, which is being distributed to all primary schools within the area free of charge, will achieve the same success as the more practical strategies that are currently in place.
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