What happens to my garden waste?

Composting is an entirely natural process which converts organic waste into an earthlike mass by means of bacteria and micro-organisms.

• When the garden waste arrives at the composting site, it is fed into a large shredder which reduces the waste in size, this aids the composting process.

• Once the waste has been shredded, the material is formed into long triangular heaps called 'windrows' in the open air. The windrows are monitored and are regularly turned to ensure all the material is composted and keeps the material 'aerobic', this gives air to the micro-organisms. During the composting process, heat is generated and can reach temperatures of 60 degrees centigrade within the windrow, this kills weeds and plant diseases in the material.

• After approximately 24 weeks, the material has become compost, this is then screened through a large rotating drum with holes in it which grades the material to the correct size. Any material too large to pass through the screen is returned to the start of the composting process and is re-processed. As the material is screened, any plastic contamination is vacuumed out.

• Once the compost has been screened, it is bagged as Pro-Grow soil conditioner. This can be purchased from any Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) including Endle Street, Chapel; Grange Road, Netley or Normandy way, Marchwood. To find your nearest HWRC, call 01962 847 021, use the link at the foot of the page for Recycle for Hampshire for more details, or use the map below.

  
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• Find out more information about the HWRC 'Recycle at Rubbish Revived' at Endle Street.