Compostable bags; not compostable at home

RECYCLE THIS...

Colin McFarlin is a Volunteer Waste Prevention Advisor with WSCC.

Thank you for all your individual enquiries about your recycling. By the time you read this I will have replied individually to all your emails to the Editor on recycling. Do keep the questions coming...

Compostable bag - Not taken in garden waste

Compostable bags

My mailbag has been busy this month with correspondence from readers who have received mail through the post in ‘Compostable Bags’.

With the outcry against plastic many organisations, such as National Trust and WI, have quickly moved away from plastic wrappers for their mailings and moved to biodegradable wrappers.

The information they put on the wrapper is not
accurate. They suggest putting them into your
home compost bin. However, not everyone has
a home compost bin, also they will not compost in a home compost bin as your bin will not reach a sufficient temperature for the wrapper to break own. There are going to be lots of disappointed National Trust and WI members emptying their compost bins in a year’s time and finding this wrapper intact! Councils will not accept this in their garden waste bin, and we, along with many other councils do not have a food waste collection service.

So where can you put it? You are left with your black top rubbish bin.

This new idea is in fact a lot worse than the original plastic wrapper; that can be recycled in major supermarkets with plastic carrier bags.

Put it in your black top rubbish bin and I do hope you will write to anyone who sends you correspondence in a Compostable Bag and point out the problems they are causing in West Sussex - and other counties!

Would you like me to give a talk to your local group on recycling? Do you have an individual question on specific items you are not sure how to recycle? One email to the Editor at editor@hurstlife.co.uk, with a picture if possible, and I can let you know.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Keep recycling!

Christmas Tree recycling for charity in Hurst

Hurst resident Paul Wilkinson is once again on the roads of the village collecting up Christmas trees when they are finished with.

Paul has carried out this service for the last two years, and, in doing so, has raised over £7,000 for charity. He is hoping to beat the 2016 total of £4,050 this year, as he collects trees in exchange for any donation. The charities Paul will be supporting this year are both Hurstpierpoint-based – Cancervive and Hope.

“This village has served me very well over the years,” Paul explains, “both in work and life in general. So being able to give something back is  very important to me.”

Once your tree has served its useful purpose you can either text or call Paul on 07879 897241 and arrange the collection. There is no fixed amount for your donation and 100% of it will go directly to the two chosen charities. Paul adds: “Even if people don’t have a real Christmas tree I will happily collect any donations that people would like to give.”