Innovative trials to find the best way to collect waste for composting in the UK have been launched by Avon Friends of the Earth, Bath & North East Somerset Council and SITA Environmental Trust.



The project involves more than 3,000 homes in Bath & North East Somerset and will be one of the most comprehensive tests of composting collection methods ever carried out in the UK.



Different service arrangements will be compared as well as the performance of the same service when offered to different types of household. Services compared will initially include weekly or fortnightly collections, free and charged collections for garden waste, adding cardboard to materials accepted and using wheeled bins or paper sacks. Once allowed by new Government regulations, food waste will be added to the materials accepted and a number of new service arrangements tested, such as alternating collections, the provision of kitchen caddies and liners and combined collections with recycling or refuse.



The £270,000 trials will run until autumn 2003 and the results of a comprehensive monitoring programme will then enable the Council to choose the best collection method.



For further details contact David Mansell, Development Manager, Avon Friends of the Earth: Email: Dave@avon-foe.org