Dalston residents can join a new composting scheme

Community groups in Hackney have been invited to show off their green credentials and join the borough's composting scheme.

Hackney Council provides equipment for composting at 12 sites and is looking for a new location to expand its service.

Each site is capable of processing 4000 kg of food waste each year, preventing it from reaching landfill and providing rich compost for growing schemes and gardening groups.

Hackney's award-winning community compost scheme began in 2009 as the borough sought to divert some of the 21,000 tonnes of food waste which were sent to landfill each year.

Since then seven residents groups and five schools have joined the scheme bringing representatives from organisations from New York, Denmark, New Zealand and Madagascar to the sites to learn about the project.

Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: "This is a great opportunity for groups to help their environment at a local level while producing their own compost for their gardens and allotments.

"Those who have taken part in the scheme so far have achieved fantastic results, received valuable advice and equipment and have helped to create a programme which is inspiring others around the world to improve their neighbourhoods."

John Talbot, compost champion for the Kennaway Estate, said: "The on-site composting has proved very popular with residents across the estate.

"The system we put in place with the support of the recycling team has been easy to manage and we are now looking forward to having a sustainable supply of compost for our vegetable patch and flowerbeds."

Funding from the North London Waste Authority is available for an additional site with free equipment provided and support from compost experts.

To apply to join the scheme interested groups can email recycling@hackney.gov.uk before 31 October 2012.

For more information visit www.hackney.gov.uk/composting