While most councils offer a garden waste bin, sometimes there are better ways of reusing or disposing of your lawn trimmings, leaves, twigs and general garden waste.
Compost heaps and bins
These are a great way of reusing everything from weeds to vegetable peelings, cut grass and dead leaves. Don’t add other food waste as you’ll attract unwanted visitors. Layer it with soil every 6 inches or so and when its full, cover it and leave to rot down. You’ll end up with nutrient rich soil that you can then use in your garden to keep the cycle going.
Worm bins
While they don’t sound appealing, worm bins are a good way of producing compost and liquid that can be reused in the garden later. The bin houses worms that feed on the vegetable waste and leaves you put in it. They digest it and produce the rich compost mentioned above. This isn’t one for meat or wood waste though.
Burning
Bonfires are a good way of getting rid of garden waste if done sensibly and safely. Remember, it’s courteous to let your neighbours know if you’re going to be billowing smoke across their garden. Also, make sure you’re not going to let smoke drift over any roads. In autumn and winter, they are lovely to gather around as well.
Make sure you don’t burn anything other than natural, organic matter and have the means to put it out quickly if it gets out of hand. Remember that twigs and sticks can also be dried out to use for lighting wood burners or barbecues as well.
