The North Lanarkshire Green Waste Trial was set up to promote home composting.
Overview
With the aim of promoting home composting, the North Lanarkshire Green Waste Trial (NLGWT) was a partnership set up between Bell College, North Lanarkshire Council and residents of the North Lanarkshire area. Part funded by North Lanarkshire Forward (NLF), it constituted part of the ongoing Bell College based Lanarkshire Sustainable Waste Management Project which incorporates the Reema Road Recycling Project and works to raise awareness of and promote the implementation of the Waste Hierarchy of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" within the North Lanarkshire area.
Once the partnership was established the project developed as follows:
- Trial areas were selected using GIS.
- Roughly 2,000 households within these areas were sent a baseline recycling questionnaire inviting householders to become involved in the Trial.
- 12% of those surveyed volunteered to take part and, in May 2001, were provided with a free 220 litre plastic compost bins and an information pack.
- A telephone hotline was set up which still continues to provide ongoing support.
- In October 2001, workshops were held in each trial area with the objective of increasing knowledge, confidence and motivation to maintain the composting habit.
- A quarterly newsletter has been produced since autumn 2001 with the aim of maintaining enthusiasm for the trial and providing further information on related but diverse environmental topics.
After 12 months, we endeavoured to evaluate the Trial's success via a follow-up questionnaire. We were very pleased by the response, with around half the recipients (49%) returning their completed forms. The resulting data provided information on the composting and recycling behaviours of our group allowing comparison with these behaviours before the Trial's inception and between sectors within the group.
One year into the Trial, there appears to have been a noticeable swing towards composting; where 73% had been putting some or all of their green waste into the household rubbish bin prior to taking part in the NLGWT, 92% were now putting their garden waste and 83% their kitchen waste into the compost bin instead.
Trial participants were also asked about their general recycling behaviour. As well as the increase in Trial participants composting their green waste, the results show a net increase in numbers recycling paper, glass and cans. The greatest net growth is for can recycling with a 55% increase, followed by paper at 38% and glass at 7%.
Factors other than the Trial appear to have had an influence too, notably with the greater increase in recycling of materials that can be put in the Council kerbside collection (can, paper), compared with those materials which can not (glass). However, it is possible that heightened awareness of recycling matters through involvement and constant communication with the Trial has improved utilisation of these facilities by our participants.
Although we intended to recruit volunteers to undertake actual measurement of green waste being diverted, the number willing to measure was too small to be statistically significant. There may have been better co-operation had it been considered an integral part of the project from the start, but this has to be balanced with the importance of not discouraging participation at the outset.
However, analysis of subjective estimations of the volume of rubbish in the household bin support the perception of the 87% of respondents who felt they were putting less green waste into the household bin.
The benefits of home composting are not just in the reduction of waste to landfill or incineration. Even in comparison with kerbside green waste collections home composting has the indirect environmental benefit of eliminating the transport required for waste collection and deposition at centralised composting sites. It should be recognised as the form of recycling most closely adhering to the "proximity principle" of dealing with your waste where it is produced. Although the bias towards those interested in gardening may imply a natural ceiling for numbers that can be engaged in home composting, the apparent diversion of green waste in our Trial suggests that projects of this kind can change both attitudes and behaviour and that home composting can work with kerbside collection and amenity site recycling programmes to divert biodegradable waste from landfill.
KEY PARTNERS
Local partners who were directly involved were the 237 trial participants; the NLC Recycling Officer; and the Green Waste Trial project manager.
The key people from outside the community were Bell College staff (project manager, line manager & general College staff); North Lanarkshire Forward; and North Lanarkshire Council Planning and Environment &Community Services Cleansing Departments
Bell College, NLF and the NLC Departments have worked very closely from the start. This has fostered a partnership which has allowed other waste management projects to evolve.
FUNDERS
The project received revenue funding from Bell College, NLF and NLC Community Services Cleansing Department.
THEMATIC CRITERIA
North Lanarkshire Recycling / Waste Reduction; Education
Plan
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of the project is to reduce waste in North Lanarkshire by promoting home composting.
The specific problem targeted was concern about the volume of green waste going to landfill. In a landfill, this biodegradable waste breaks down to release methane and other VOCs, raising concerns about the impacts of landfills through gaseous emissions, leachate, odours and vermin. Secondly, the Landfill Directive [99/31/EC], which impacts directly on Scotland's National Waste Strategy, demands that 65% of our biodegradable municipal solid waste (BMW) be diverted from landfill by 2020. It was hoped that encouraging home composting would reduce the volume of kitchen and garden waste been deposited in the household refuse and, thus, landfill.
Initial work
- North Lanarkshire Council Planning and Environment Department used GIS to select three areas based on the appropriate population numbers and mix of housing types. These were:
- Moodiesburn (North area)
- Blairhill (Central area)
- Greenacres (South area)
- A household baseline survey was conducted to assess householder attitude, behaviour towards managing green waste prior to participation in the trial. Recycling behaviour with regard to other materials was also examined in brief. The survey questionnaire was distributed to almost 1,973 households within the three trial areas. 19% of these were returned completed.
- Householder participation was invited through the questionnaire and 12% of those surveyed volunteered to participate in the Trial. Participants received a free 220 litre composting bin and were informed of the provision of a compost support service. Composting information packs were delivered to participants along with their composting units.
- Workshops were conducted in each of the trial areas in October 2001 with the aim of increasing knowledge, confidence and motivation to maintain the home composting habit.
Continued work
- The Technical Support Service was established to provide introductory information about composting, trouble-shooting advice, enhance participant's knowledge and provide continuous support for home composting. A telephone hotline was set up and provided ongoing support. Any non-Trial members contacting this help-line were also sent relevant information and had their queries answered. Although the Trial was concluded in spring 2003, participants have been notified that this telephone number is still functional and advice will still be available.
- A quarterly Newsletter has been produced since autumn 2001 with the aim of maintaining enthusiasm for the trial and providing further information on both composting topics and related but diverse environmental topics such as glass and paper recycling, Ecoschools and solar power. The final edition was published in spring 2003.
- Max Air Kitchen Collection Systems (consisting of a ventilated plastic kitchen bucket and roll of 100% biodegradable cornstarch biobags) were distributed free of charge to Trial participants. Participants were notified of the purpose and availability of these bucket and Biobag systems by mail initially, followed up by distribution nights in each of the Trial areas. A subsequent evaluation questionnaire was sent out and demonstrated 100% satisfaction rating (65% very satisfied, 35% satisfied) with the system.
- A Plus One Year household questionnaire was sent to all Trial participants in June 2002. Again this examined composting and general recycling behaviours. 237 questionnaires were sent out and 49% returned completed.
- Road shows were advertised within the Compost Corner editorials and local press and the Trial also held stalls at major events throughout the summer e.g. Viewpark Flower Festival and Tree Fest. Advice and information leaflets were freely available. These again allowed face-to-face contact with Trial participants and others, supporting existing composters and encouraging would be composters.
- Publicity has helped to maintain the profile and, thus, perpetuate the message of the NLGWT. This has been achieved through attendance at events such as those mentioned above and through press releases to local media.
Future steps
The North Lanarkshire Green Waste Trial has been completed but the support for participants will continue through the work of the research assistant at Bell College.
228 households are still engaged on the Trial with, as noted, 92% composting garden waste and 83% kitchen waste.
The main development underway is the Bell College/Wise Group Reema Road Recycling training project mentioned previously. The objectives are as follows:
- Vocational and employment training for project staff
- Collection and analyses of data on household attitudes and behaviours relating to waste management in North Lanarkshire
- Raising of the profile of sustainable waste management within the community, leading to better utilisation of Council sites and kerbside collection schemes.
Encouragement of community ownership of recycling initiatives, leading to improved participation rates
We also hope to be involved in the waste management side of a local Council led sustainable industrial estate project, and have put in funding bids for more research into sustainable development, in particular sustainable consumption.
Progress
With the aim of promoting home composting, the North Lanarkshire Green Waste Trial (NLGWT) is a partnership set up between Bell College, North Lanarkshire Council and residents of the North Lanarkshire area. Part funded by North Lanarkshire Forward (NLF), it forms part of the Bell College based Lanarkshire Sustainable Waste Management Project incorporating the Reema Road Recycling Project which is working to raise awareness of and promote the implementation of the Waste Hierarchy of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" within the North Lanarkshire area. Inspired by the Daventry District Council trial, the NLGWT started as an idea cultivated by Bell College and NLF in early 2000. North Lanarkshire Council Community Services Department Cleansing Section became involved and the project got underway in May of 2001.
North Lanarkshire Council is the fourth largest unitary authority in Scotland, with a 6.4% share of the national population living in, mainly, urban surroundings. In the year 2000/2001, it occupied the lowest position in the Local Authorities recycling league table with a recycling rate of 1.3%. Over 2002, the introduction of a number of new initiatives such as the Twin Bag and Blue Bin kerbside collection schemes, have seen this figure rise to 5.7%. The North Lanarkshire Green Waste Trial has been running alongside these projects to work towards better waste management in the North Lanarkshire area.
Review
Achievements
The results of our second questionnaire show that, where 73% had been putting some or all of their green waste into the household rubbish bin prior to taking part in the NLGWT, as a result of the NLGWT, 92% were now putting their garden waste and 83% their kitchen waste into the compost bin instead.
It is hoped the wider community will benefit from the reduction of biodegradable waste going to landfill.
Measuring success
From the data collected, it appears a large number of our householders are still composting their green waste rather than disposing of it in the household refuse.
Comparison of data from our 2 questionnaires shows a general trend towards increased recycling of other materials within our Trial group. Whilst, at the time of our second survey only 34% were served by a kerbside collection scheme for recyclables, 82% of respondents were recycling paper, 73% cans and 59% glass, showing a net growth of 38% for recycling paper, 55% for cans and 7% for glass.
Process
Local involvement is key to the project - the 237 participant households and North Lanarkshire Council were the main local partners.
Lessons
Composting is generally viewed as part of the hobby of gardening. Those with small gardens or little interest in gardening often do not think it relevant to their lifestyle. We have tried to include it as part of a holistic approach to sustainable waste management rather than a stand-alone method, through our newsletters, workshops and stalls.
We have tried to pre-empt issues that may have discouraged Trial participants such as problems with fruit flies, smells, or the length of time it takes to actually make good compost (12-18months) by providing a constant support and information service through our newsletters, stalls and telephone helpline & home visits.
Ensure a minimum of 2 years funding before beginning and foster a good relationship with your Local Council. They can provide good support and underline the validity of your project.
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