8 December 2024

Popular compost giveaway events set to return

East Riding Council’s compost giveaways are back this September and more bags will be handed out than ever before.

About 6,500 bags of compost – 75 tonnes – will be handed out free to residents over nine events held across the East Riding between September 5 and 20.

The increase – from the 55 tonnes normally given away – is as a result of the popularity of the giveaway events held in May.

Councillor Paul West, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “The compost giveaways we held in May proved to be so popular that we’ve upped the amount this time to make sure we can cope with the demand.

“These giveaways are the council’s way of thanking residents for their continued support of our recycling schemes.”

As normal, residents are invited to drive along to their nearest event, where two bags of compost will be placed into their car boots by council staff.

The compost being given away is made up entirely from the garden and food waste that East Riding residents recycle in their brown bins.

Brown bins can take grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, small branches, leaves, flowers and weeds, all cooked and uncooked food, peelings, plate scrapings, bones, bread, meat, eggshells and small amounts of soups, sauces and gravies.

All brown bin contents get recycled into compost by the Biowise plant in Willerby – where the giveaway compost comes from.

In our region, free compost will be given away at Lelley Fields Crematorium in Preston on Tuesday, September 5, from 4.30pm; Broadway Car Park in Hornsea on Thursday, September 7, from 4pm; and Pavilion Car Park in Withernsea on Wednesday, September 13, from 4pm.

Residents are asked not to queue at the venues beforehand or they may be turned away for safety reasons.

The compost is best used as a soil improver.