Community composting team scoops award

Denton community composting scheme has welcomed an award from Norfolk County Council for its pioneering work. The scheme, which has been running for six months, has 18 committed and dedicated volunteers who every week and in all weathers, collect garden waste from their friends and neighbours in the village.

It is then taken in a trailer to the 1.6 cubic metre bins in the village, where it is turned into compost ready to be used again in villagers’ gardens.

Scheme co-ordinator Liz Cargill, who lives in Denton, said everyone was delighted by the recognition they had received. She thanked the parish council for its support – the co-ordinating group behind the scheme is part of the parish council – and she added:

“This award is a thank you to every one of the 18 volunteers who turn out every week to collect together the garden waste, and to everyone in the village who has taken part and helped make the scheme a success.

“If we are serious about saving our environment, and recycling what we don’t want instead of throwing it away, we need more community composting schemes like this one at Denton.

“Next year is the year of volunteering – I think Denton shows what you can do when you have a strong community that pulls together to get things done.”

South Norfolk Council’s expert on composting, Rosemary Henderson, nominated Denton for the award. She has just written and published two guides on home composting and community composting, which are available on the council’s website (see below). She said:

“I think the Government should support schemes like Denton. They should do nothing to discourage communities from setting up similar schemes, or threaten the ones that are already up and running with extra costs they cannot handle.

“I understand the Government is considering imposing an annual charge on community composting schemes. I have spoken to policy officers at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and made a strong case against these charges.

“Denton is a model to the Government and to other communities of what can be done. We want more Denton’s in South Norfolk and across the country, not less.”

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