What to do with green garden waste?

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 15:26

Hi,



We live on a complex of 78 properties with communal gardens & private gardens. We are accumulating a lot of garden waste and it is becoming unsightly around the perimeter of the site. We have asked the local beledyia to take it away but they are not listening, I understand for safety reasons we are not allowed to set fire to it. Does anybody have any idea what we can try next. We live on the coast road below Essentepe, what do other complexes in the area do with their garden waste?





The butlers wife

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 15:43

A communal compost heap with like-minded folk would be the ideal...



I chuck ours out and the goats and sheep eat it... no chance of it building up.



I believe that you can ask for permission to light a fire in the wet months but it should never be left unattended and you should have a hose nearby to tackle any problems. Quite sensibly fires are not permitted in the dry season.

greenman


Joined: 16/02/2008
Posts: 526

Message Posted:
12/03/2011 16:02

Agree with Groucho on the communal compost heap - BUT this is potentially a lot of waste, and for it to work it has to be managed and that requires some effort and agreed rules . First of all you need to identify a suitable location, and that's the first problem as you have to overcome the NIMBY's. There can be run off from the compost so keep away from anything that could suffer from the pollution e.g. wells, pools. Secondly you have to prepare the site. You will need two areas: one area for the newly cut waste and the other for the composting. Why two areas? Because the newly cut waste may need to be broken down by shredding as woody stems and leathery leaves will not break down very well or quickly. The composting heap will also need attention - you need to turn the waste to introduce air (oxygen) into the pile otherwise the heap can go anaerobic and produce smells. You may be able to sell on your compost to cover some of your running costs.