Food waste recycling / compost

[KatyS]

Hi all, I have recently moved to a flat in denmark hill (champion hill) and we don't have any facilities to recycle or compost food waste and I was wondering if anyone knows of any facilities I could use? Thanks

[Ruffler]

Do you have a brown bin? If not you can request one from the Southwark website. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200084/recycling_and_waste/2352/request_a_bin_or_additional_food_waste_bags/1

[fl0wer]

In my front yard I easily set up two 'dalek' bins, 1 for current filling whilst the other, full, is undisturbed for a few months letting its brandling worms do the magic.

The vegetable/tealeaf type [never meat or fish] waste goes in layers with shredded brown cardboard boxes, occasionally lawn mowings, and spent peat from flower pots. We don't get problem odours, rats or flies. The reason I prefer these bins is their lids.

Southwark Council were virtually giving them away last time I looked - ?10 each. I think it is a much more sustainable system than the brown wheelie bin/collection method which relies on Council lorries. In a short season we've sufficient material not to need to buy potting compost.

[jamiev]

I'm guessing Katy doesn't have the possibility of having a brown bin because, like me being in an apartment building the council doesn't collect from our door, there are only communal bins.

A wormery from Southwark Council is a possibility http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/530/food_and_garden_waste/2118/home_composting/1

[KatyS]

Thanks all - and yes Jamie is right we're not able to use the brown bins in this block of flats, but a wormery on the balcony might work!