Local Council Compost

[mossy]

Hello

I have recently taken on an allotment covered in couch grass and the likes and so I have been taking all the weeds to the local tip and putting them into the green recycling area.

My local council are running a scheme called get your own back, each time you recycle green waste you get a token to get some compost back. I just wondered if it was 'safe' to use this compost.

Do you think that due to the amount of compost the council must generate and therefore the heat that it will kill of any weeds such as couch grass and so be safe to use on my allotment??? Any advice would be greatfully received.

[Peter]

Have a look at http://www.aceofherts.com/ which is the company doing the job in Hertfordshire for the District Councils, espcially the "Product" pages, where a temperatore of 65C to 72C is mentioned.

On another forum concern was expressed about "contaminants" especially glass, as there is always some "don't give a stuff" idiot putting the wrong stuff in the recycling bin.

[mossy]

Thank you, I've found out that the company doing this job for Lincolnshire Council is Bettaland Products Ltd although i can't seem to find a website for them.

If anyone else had used this type of compost I'd be interested in hearing how you found it.

Many thanks

[Shortie]

Wow mossy what a fab idea your council have, I've never heard of that before. I bet it encourages more people to compost rather than bin their stuff as they get an incentive to 'bother'

[mossy]

I thought it was quite a good scheme as well, you get a token each time you recycle your green waste and then when you've got 3 you can go to the depot and pick up a bag of compost. Its a pilot scheme there testing in Lincoln at the moment. I'm just not sure if I want my couch grass back unless its definately dead!! lol

[Strepsy]

Well I'd definitely give it a go. Maybe keep it to pots until you're sure of its quality?

[pigletwillie]

Our coucil produce it and I would class it as a soil conditioner rather than great for pots or growing on plants. We have had some plastic and glass in it on occasion which forced us to use gloves when handling it at first.

Its as cheap as chips and great for adding bulk to our plots.

[mossy]

I might give it a go then. Its free all I need to do is go and collect some from the depot and I could do with something to add to the soil, I'll remember to wear my thick gloves though just in case.

Thanks everyone.

[mossy]

Thanks for everyones advice/opinions on this. I've found out that they actually screen the compost first to remove glass/plastics etc so it should be fairly safe to use.

[Peter]

Warning.

Screening is all well and good, but a regular on Kitchen Garden forum got a glass splinter up one of his fingers and that was from screened municipal domestic waste compost so take care, it only needs a fragment.

[Shortie]

I agree with you totally on this Peter... Chunks removed - maybe, but no-one could spot all glass etc. I know we all find cockery in our gardens etc so there's a chance of it happening in your garden soild too, but at least a back garden should have been looked after better (so not had glass etc thrown in for free)