@ Household Waste Recycling Centres

Why Compost @ Household Waste Recycling Centres

Composting reduces rubbish, re-uses organic materials and helps divert large quantities (up to 30% of the average household bin) from landfill. When organic matter is buried in a landfill site, the airless conditions prevent natural composting processes. The materials ferment, producing both toxic liquids that can leach into nearby groundwater and methane - an explosive, potent contributor to the greenhouse effect.

If you are able to compost at home this is the preferred option as this cuts out the need for transporting the material - and the finished product can be used where it is made. If you haven’t the space to home compost or have too much material and your council provides a kerbside collection for garden waste then please support this service.

If neither of these options are available to you then you can take organic garden waste (not garden furniture, old tools etc!) to any of the 18 Household Waste Recycling Centres in Suffolk - to find your nearest site click here. Garden waste includes materials such as grass cuttings, hedge trimmings, weeds and dead flowers. Please remove all plant pots and plastic bags before taking to the garden waste containers at the site.

This waste is shredded and composted to produce 'Green Top' soil improver, which is available to buy in bags at each site. 'Green Top' can be purchased in 25 litre bags at £1.50 from all the sites, except Foxhall.

In Foxhall, you will need to bring your own bag(s) and help yourself to the 'Green Top' in the container at the far corner of the site. The cost will be £1 per bag, shovels are also provided for your convenience.

You can also collect larger loads of soil improver from Foxhall at the cost of £13 plus VAT per ton. Delivery of large loads can be arranged by contacting Viridor Waste Management on 01473 624199 (delivery charges will apply based on destination - please contact Viridor for details).

How Garden Waste is processed

You can view the process of composting garden waste from Household Waste Recycling Centres in PDF format here.