Composting Trial In West Sussex Aims To Reduce Waste

Friday, 2 July 2021 06:00

By Jade McLean

A composting scheme to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, is being trialled in West Sussex.

The Hotbins or 'aerobic composters' currently worth £200, work on the premise that bacteria on the waste inside breaks down, creating heat as a by-product.

As the compost inside reaches temperatures of 40 and 60 degrees celsius, the waste transforms into a nutrient-rich product in between 30 and 90 days.

High temperature accelerate the rate of production and help other more difficult food waste, such as bones, to speed up the process.

Thirty residents in Adur and Worthing are trialling the bins in exchange for their feedback.

If reviews are good, the council may offer them to residents to buy in the future at a discounted rate.

Andy Brook, from Lancing, is one of the locals taking part in the trial. He runs a gardening blog and has written about his experiences with the Hotbin so far.

Speaking to the Councils, Andy said:

"As a keen gardener and Adur District Council allotment holder I'm keen to make my own composts - I have lots of raw materials and want to reduce what I throw away.

"I thought that by taking part I might inspire others to think about their own lifestyles and perhaps find room for a Hotbin in them.

"The process is clean and easy. It has become part of my gardening and food preparation routines to complete those activities by 'popping the rest in the Hotbin' which is outside the back door and is neat in design.

"I have ready resources of green and brown materials to compost, but now I consider or use materials I can repurpose or get in the Hotbin, like shredded paper from my office which I have previously given to a local business for their packaging."

Increasing levels of composting across Adur and Worthing was one of the recommendations put forward by the A&W Climate Assembly.

The recommendations look to promote efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover, alongside promotion and ongoing support for initiatives like composting.

Cllr Emma Evans, Adur's Executive Member for the Environment, said:

"It's fantastic to know that so many households have already taken up the chance to reduce the amount of food they waste as well as their carbon footprint.

"Bacteria digests waste 32 times faster at 60 degrees celsius than at 10, so if compost takes 18 months in a cold heap it will take 18 days in a Hotbin.

"That's why using one is a brilliant and easy way to do your bit for the environment."

The introduction of the trial supports Adur & Worthing Councils' area-wide target to become carbon neutral by 2045.

Cllr Edward Crouch, Worthing's Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services, said:

"We haven't set a date for how long the trial is going to run yet, but we will be continuously reviewing the data and feedback we get from those taking part.

"We are looking at the option of providing Hotbins for purchase for Adur and Worthing residents in the future, at a discounted rate."