The Importance of Garden Waste Recycling
Most types of garden or green waste are biodegradable and can be recycled, including bark, flowers, grass and hedge cuttings, leaves, plants, small branches, twigs, and weeds. These materials can be shredded and composted into nutrient-rich soil conditioners. The compost produced can then be used in various applications such as agriculture, land reclamation, and even as an ingredient in multipurpose compost.
Why Garden Waste Recycling Matters
- Nutrient-Rich Compost: Organic waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost, enriching soil quality and fostering healthier plant growth. This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and supports sustainable agriculture.
- Lowered Emissions: Traditional waste disposal methods generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Recycling garden waste reduces methane emissions, aiding in the fight against climate change.
- Cost Efficiency: By recycling organic waste, individuals and businesses can save on disposal costs while simultaneously contributing to sustainable practices.
- Local Circular Economy: Garden waste recycling promotes a local circular economy by processing waste within the community, creating jobs, and fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem.
How to Dispose of Garden Waste
- Composting at Home: Home composting is an accessible way to recycle garden waste. It involves creating a compost pile using kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, and other organic materials. Check out our >> Introduction to Organic Waste Management and Composting.
- Make good use of fallen leaves: Collect fallen leaves from lawns and paths in autumn, place them in a jute leaf sack, old compost bag or bin bag, and in about two years you will have a bag of leaf mould, often referred to as ‘black gold’.
- Mulching: Mulching garden waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, can enrich soil moisture retention and suppress weed growth, while simultaneously decomposing naturally. Check out the RHS website for more information about how to mulch your garden waste.
- Green Waste Collection Service: One of the most convenient and environmentally friendly ways to dispose of garden waste is through the green waste collection service. This is often done as a combined food waste and garden waste collection service (organic waste only). Many councils charge for this type of service, however most local councils provide residents with green waste collections in some form. These green waste collections ensure that your organic garden waste is efficiently managed and sent for composting.
- Take it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre: Most Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) accept garden waste. We recommend visiting their website before visiting to familiarise yourself with their guidelines and any potential charges for disposing of garden waste.
Hire a Skip: If your business has a large volume of garden waste, hiring a skip can be an efficient solution. J&B Recycling offers skip hire services, helping you dispose of your garden waste in an environmentally responsible way. We take care of the recycling process, ensuring your waste is disposed of properly.
J&B Recycling are based in the North of England. Our commercial collection services operate from the Scottish Borders down to Hull and North Yorkshire. Our main areas for collecting and processing commercial waste include Teesside (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton), Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Get in touch for more information and to request a quote.