MEMBERS of a garden waste collection scheme have been given the chance to purchase the compost they helped to produce.

The event was part of Compost Awareness Week, a national campaign to promote the benefits of making and using compost for gardens and communities.

Households in Woodham and parts of Newton Aycliffe put out their garden waste for recycling in brown wheeled bins emptied by Sedgefield Borough Council.

And 600 bags of compost produced by Premier Waste Management from the garden waste, were purchased by people participating in the scheme

Oliver Priestley-Leach, Sedgefield's waste management officer, said: "The garden waste recycling scheme follows on from a successful trial carried out in the area last year, and this year we hope to recycle over 500 tonnes of garden waste.

"Subject to identifying and securing further funding, we intend to roll this scheme out across the whole of the borough over the coming years.

"Just like the kerb-it scheme, which collects glass, paper and cans for recycling back into bottles, cardboard and cans, the garden waste scheme has closed the loop by offering compost made from the garden waste collected for recycling."

Householders anywhere in the borough can produce their own compost by purchasing compost bins on sale at Blossoms Nurseries in Windlestone or by calling 0870 8443021. The bins, available in two sizes, are made from recycled plastic and guaranteed for ten years.