Learning about composting with deputy Public Services minister Scott Ogier are Samuel, 7, left, and Jack Reed, 4. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0589672)

NEARLY 3,000 discounted compost bins have been sold as islanders do their bit to cut the amount of waste going to landfill.

The scheme was introduced in 2005 by the Environment Department and is being continued by Public Services. The kits, which include a 235-litre bin, a kitchen caddy and home-composting guide or a  CD-Rom, normally cost about £35 each but islanders have been able to buy them from  garden centres for between £10 and £15.

‘We are trying to reduce all the various waste streams currently going to landfill, not only to extend the life of Mont Cuet but also as part of the longer-term waste strategy,’ said Public Services minister Bernard Flouquet.

‘This particular scheme is one of a number of important initiatives that are helping us to achieve this. Food and other organic material make up a large proportion of household rubbish and can easily be composted instead of going to landfill. By providing these kits at a discount, thousands of local households have been able to reduce the amount of waste they are creating and that is making a very real contribution to the overall strategy.’