Ten Things You Need to Consider About Garden Waste

A garden can be somewhere to relax in; to let the children play; to have parties and barbecues in the summer; to potter about it, and to just 'enjoy'. However, gardens never 'stand still' - especially in the growing season. Plants keep growing - or dying. Either way, they need to be cut back from time to time. Changes need to be made regularly if the garden is not to become overcrowded and a place to be dreaded rather than enjoyed.

When you want to get rid of the waste you're going to generate from your garden, you need to:

1. Consider the environment. Old fashioned bonfires help to pollute the environment, so getting rid of your garden waste that way is not a good idea - except, maybe, on 5 ^th November but that's a special case.


2. Separate the waste into 'green', garden and 'other' waste. 'Green waste' approximates to 'compostable' waste; garden waste includes tree trunks, roots and branches and 'other' waste means such things as old garden furniture, plant pots, bricks and plastic bags. If your waste is separated into these categories it's easier and quicker to be collected - and it promises to be cheaper to dispose of green waste than other forms of garden waste. In addition, reduce the waste's 'bulk' as much as possible because waste removal firms charge customers according to how much space the waste takes up in their vehicle. It'll also help the collectors if you can place the waste as close as possible to where it's going to be loaded onto the collectors' vehicle. That could save time and trouble - and, therefore, money.


3. Decide on the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to get rid of your waste. This could mean ...


4. Compost the waste in your own garden. You'll need a big garden and a sizable composting area - and you can not compost every bit of garden rubbish. For example, tree roots and branches do not compost unless you use special equipment to crush them to sawdust.


5. Use your 'green bin'. This works well for modest amounts of garden waste - but the bin is only emptied every fortnight. You might have more waste than your bin can cope with - and collection times may be inconvenient, depending on when the waste is generated.


6. Take the waste to your local refusal and recycling depot. This will involve 'bagging up' the waste and then transporting it - maybe via several trips - to the depot. This could be tiring and time consuming.


7. Get a 'Man and Van' to collect the waste. This can be convenient and reliably cheap - and it can save you a lot of time and trouble. But you must ...


8. Make sure the person collecting the waste is reputable - because you would not want that person to fly tip your waste. Moreover, if the rubbish can be traced back to you, you'll be liable to pay the penalty. Ask to see the person's public liability insurance certificate and Environment Agency license to carry waste. Ask for the person's waste carrier license number - and check it on the Environment Agency's website.


9. Hire a skip or a mini-skip. If you get a skip, order the largest skip you feel able to fill with waste - since larger skips cost less per cubic yard than smaller ones.


10. Make sure your property can cope with a skip safely and legally. You can get advice, guidance and practical help on skip hire, as well as a 'man and van' service, from Waste King on 0800 141 2778 and 01442 210034.