1 Recycling Initiative

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Pearl Sanders
5 years ago
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1 1 Recycling Initiative To keep things simple homeowners need to put recyclables in a green colour plastic bag. These will be collected on Fridays during the usual garbage collection by our refuse removal company (Averda). They are an accredited waste removal company and recyclables will be taken to their recycling plant. 1.1 RECYCLABLE WASTE The following items count as recyclable and can be put in the bags: Glass bottles and jars Polystyrene Plastic containers, bottles and bags Paper and cardboard Food and drink cans Square milk and juice containers Any item carrying the recycling symbol The following do not count as recyclable; please do not put in the bags: Old clothing and shoes Food waste and garden refuse Cling wrap, disposable nappies and toothpaste tubes Motor oil containers, acids, solvents, paint and chemicals

2 Batteries Please help us by paying attention to the following: Large cardboard containers can be flattened and placed next to the wheelie bin. Prevent glass from breaking Rinse out glass jars and soiled material 1.2 BOKASHI SYSTEM The second aspect of our waste management strategy is to deal with perishable material. Not only does this pose a health risk to our staff in handling the waste, but it is also attracts flies and vermin to the rubbish bins. Dealing with smelly bins on a weekly basis is another problem. All these perishable material can however be turned into something useful by using a system based on Bokashi. We have tested this system and found it to be easy to implement, odour free, hygienic and efficient. Once again, we will try and keep this system as simple as possible. You will be issued with a plastic 20L container with a lid as well as a small container of Bokashi bran. Bokashi is oat bran that has been fermented with Effective Microbes (EMs). This serves as an inoculant to ferment all perishable material in an anaerobic environment. You will need approximately 1½ kg of Bokashi per month; this can be purchased from the local Agrimark or nurseries. Sprinkle a handful of Bokashi in the bottom of the bucket before putting in the first layer of waste and again after every layer of kitchen waste that goes into the bucket.

3 The process works best if the food is cut or broken into smaller pieces and kept quite dry. If time for chopping up stuff is a problem it is still better to put the waste into the bucket system rather than sending it to the dustbin to eventually end up on the landfill! It will not cause a train smash if the pieces are still big like the butternut in the bottom right hand corner of this picture. The process inside the bucket is anaerobic and the bucket must not be opened too often. Remember to sprinkle Bokashi on top every time that new waste is added. Compress the mix: a plastic shopping bag on top of the waste helps to keep the contents anaerobic and makes it easier to press the contents down if you feel squeamish. Repeat this layering process until the bucket is full. The filled container can be put out with the other rubbish on Fridays where it will be collected and processed by our staff; you will then be issued with a clean container. It will, however, be beneficial for you to use this material in your own garden. Bokashi Compost will look different to other compost as the food waste does not break down or decompose while it is in the bucket. It retains much of its original physical properties and will have a pickled appearance. Breakdown of waste will only occur after it has been transferred into the soil or compost heap.

How to apply the fermented waste in your garden: 1. Dig a trench if you want to plant a row of vegetables.

Add som fermented kitchen waste from your bokashi bin. If planting a tree or shrub, dig a hole and do the same.

the soil. 2. Cover with the soil coming from the trench.

will eventually sag. Water well once you have closed your trench.

4 How to apply the fermented waste in your garden: 1. Dig a trench if you want to plant a row of vegetables. The trench should be at least spade depth. Loosen the bottom of the trench with a garden fork. Add som fermented kitchen waste from your bokashi bin. If planting a tree or shrub, dig a hole and do the same. The fermented waste can also be buried in your compost heap, speeding up the composting process and introducing all the good microbes to the soil. 2. Cover with the soil coming from the trench. Put all the soil on top of the waste exactly in the same spot where you dug the trench even if it makes a slight ridge because the soil will eventually sag. Water well once you have closed your trench. Apply good compost, preferably compost containing more Effective Micro-organisms (EM), to the soil if it is not in a good condition. Let the prepared bed mature for a week or so. Now you are ready for planting. The micro-activity in the soil will attract more good organisms, all improving the structure of the soil to the benefit of all the plants that will be growing in that spot.

5 The EM in the Bokashi will also improve conditions inside the plants to such an extent that they attract less pests and diseases and the products also have a longer shelf life. The internal conditions of the plants can be further improved by using other EM applications.

RECYCLING CHANGES FROM OCTOBER 17

RECYCLING CHANGES FROM OCTOBER 17 OCTOBER 17 From Monday 17 October 2016 the new recycling collection service will begin. Read on for all the information you need. 2 RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICE CHANGES