COMMUNITY group North Tawton Environmental Trust (NTET) have hit the spot with their new kerbside garden waste collection.
Residents turned out in force to the launch event, which was held in the spring, and have proved their support for the scheme by producing more than 21 tonnes of garden waste for collection and composting since the service started in April.
The materials collected are composted locally and distributed back to the community for a small charge.
Following the successful launch of the scheme, garden waste collections in North Tawton will take place on the first Saturday of every month initially until the end of November this year.
Andrew Barron, West Devon Borough Council's waste education officer, said: 'This is a brilliant initiative and we are right behind it. It is a truly sustainable waste initiative, with householders and NTET working together for a sensible environmental solution.
'North Tawton is a remote town with lots of houses and narrow streets where our current garden waste trucks would struggle. By working with community groups in this way we are widening the spread and access to recycling/composting for residents in rural West Devon.'
Cllr Nick Morgan, vice-chair of the council's environment and community committee and local councillor for North Tawton, said: 'This is an important step forward in West Devon Borough Council's effort to take recyclables out of the waste stream, and the borough will continue to look at other ways to work with groups such as this to help in its effort to increase recycling.
'I would like to thank the volunteers of the Trust who give their time to help make this scheme work.
At present, the compost can be purchased from them by phoning the number below and they will be looking at ways to sell it through local outlets.'
For further information on the scheme — including where to buy the compost — or if you would like bags to join in, phone North Tawton Environmental Trust on 01837 89069.