A RECORD 1,500 tonnes of leaves have been swept up off the streets of West Devon over the winter to be recycled into compost. West Devon Council is responsible for keeping the streets of the borough clean and, as one of the best recycling authorities in the South West, diverts the leaves from landfill to be recycled instead. The leaves are composted with the council?s fortnightly kerbside collections of Green and Clean garden waste and thick card. All the waste is turned into top quality sustainable compost, and is available locally from many retail outlets for use in gardens. Since the Green and Clean collections started 15 months ago, 1,500 tonnes has been collected ? the combined weight of the leaves, garden waste and thick card is equivalent to the weight of 700 female African elephants! Andrew Barron, the council?s recycling education officer, says that, thanks to residents participating in the Green and Clean scheme, the latest figures are pushing the borough?s recycling figures beyond 30%. However he issued a plea for help. Said Mr Barron: ?With all this extra tonnage in garden waste, we need as much thick card as possible as this is a key ingredient to making a good compost. ?We will take as much as people can put out, and it does not have to fit in the Green and Clean bags.? If you need a new calendar for your next nine months of garden waste and card collection dates, or you wish to find out more about the service and minor amendments, telephone 813600.
