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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are providing free compost to residents this week. On Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 May you can get a free bag of compost if you call by at any of the Council's Household Recycling Centres. It'sone bag of compost per vehicle on a first come first serve basis and it's to celebrate International Compost Awareness Week.
The week runs from 7-13 May and it aims to raise awareness of the benefits of composting.
The compost supplied by Natural World Products is actually made from garden waste recycled at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Household Recycling Centres and the contents of the brown bin collected from local households. Over 28,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste was diverted from landfill locally in 2022.
Benefits of Composting
Promotes Recycling
Composting ensures that up to 30% of household waste doesn’t end up in landfills. It is also a great way to teach kids to be more environmentally conscious, and to get involved with chores. Most importantly, recycling food waste into compost helps you grow more food!
Produces Nutrient Rich Soil
Composting does wonders for planting as it enriches the soil, subdues plant diseases, keeps pests at bay, and retains essential moisture. Composting creates an organic component in soil called humus, that creates essential nutrients like nitrogen and carbon that help with plants with photosynthesis and healthy growth.
Develops Precious Microorganisms
Composting encourages the decomposition of organic material that produces valuable microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. These microorganisms are crucial to help break down organic matter, and aerate the soil in order to create humus (a nutrient-rich material). Humus helps the composting process along by creating nitrogen which is a key nutrient that most plants need.
Reduces Dependency on Chemicals
Microorganisms produced through composting are effective enough to produce healthy plant life without the use of chemical fertilizers. Just like nature intended, growing your own food is much healthier if its chemical free.
Reduces Methane Emissions in Landfills
Organic waste will decompose naturally in landfills. The decomposition process of organic waste in landfills takes a long time, while releasing methane greenhouse gasses that contribute to air pollution. While that happens, all the essential nutrients from organic materials are wasted when they could be reused to help feed ourselves.
