Suggestions had been made by a number of local residents that a Community Composting Scheme could have some merit.
This idea followed Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council temporarily suspending its Garden Waste Collections as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Many consider it an excellent idea – just where could it be and who would manage it?
One suggestion was that the Town Council’s Harry Gilbert Allotments in Winchester Road could be a location but that was deemed not to be possible with the Town Council saying that while being “sympathetic to residents who are unable to provide their own composting facilities … this could encourage residents to leave their homes unnecessarily, could be difficult to monitor and could cost the Council to have it cleared.”
So if anyone has any suggestions please let them be known, noting that care would need to be taken over its management to ensure no fly-tipping, and that any implementation may need to wait until after the lockdown movement restrictions are lifted.
Meanwhile … Home Composting
Composting is an easy way of producing soil improver for your garden as well as helping the environment in reducing the amount of waste that otherwise needs disposal. Now is just the time to start a compost heap or to obtain a compost bin.
Some info from Hampshire County Council on Composting is here:
COMPOSTING
The Bonfire fallout
Regrettably, one fallout of the temporary halt of Garden Waste Collections has been that the number of bonfires has increased which has raised considerable concern. Bonfires, whilst not illegal, can fall under legislation covering “statutory nuisance” and penalties issued.
Basingstoke Council have said:
The [Environmental Health] team is urging people not to have any bonfires because of the problems smoke will be likely to cause their neighbours. Anyone who is tempted to have a bonfire is asked to think again because of the impact of filling the air with smoke, particularly as a neighbour could be unwell.
Many will say:
Why have a Bonfire when you could Compost?