Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

SHOPPERS can prove they love the environment by signing up to two green Charnwood Borough Council trials at next week’s Valentine’s Day Farmers Market.

While traders get into the romantic mood by selling heart-shaped products at the popular Loughborough event, officers from the Council will be looking for people passionate about reducing the amount of rubbish that goes in their wheelie bins.

Homeowners conscious about the amount of paper waste they currently throw away are being encouraged to tear up the evidence –by picking up a free paper shredder.

The Authority is giving away shredders as part of a six-month trial to see if more waste paper can be recycled – and the offer proved to be extremely popular when it was launched in the latest edition of Charnwood News.

All the shredders allocated to the Council’s magazine have been snapped up – and the Farmers Market will be the only place to try and collect a free shredder and take part in the trial.

And green cone food digesters that make a meal out of unwanted food can also be picked up free of charge as part of another Council trial.

Stalls at the Farmers Market, which takes place on Wednesday, 14th February between 9am and 3pm in Devonshire Square, will be decorated with balloons to coincide with the most romantic day of the year.

Cllr Sandie Gough, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure and Environment, said: “A free paper shredder or green cone food digester is an attractive proposition and will help you to care for the environment even more.

“The shredders can be used to safely dispose of important documents that contain financial information and then disposed of in your red sacks – while Valentine’s Day cards can also be recycled in this way.

“Each ton of paper and card we recycle can save 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water – and that can only be a good thing.

“Many people are already taking part in the food digester trial and we’ve received many positive comments to say what a difference it makes to the amount of waste that goes in their wheelie bins.

“The Farmer’s Market is always an extremely popular event with the people of Charnwood and beyond but the Valentine’s Day market promises to be even more alluring – especially with so many love-ly products and free goodies on offer.”

Charnwood Borough Council has also teamed up with the Recycle Now Compost at Home Campaign to offer residents cut-price compost bins.

Cllr Gough added: “If you’re lucky enough to receive a beautiful bunch of flowers from a loved one on Valentine’s Day, don’t throw them in the kitchen bin when they have died.

“Instead, add them to a composter or compost bin as they a great source of nitrogen-rich ingredients which will give your compost extra nutrients.”

Residents can buy 220 litre compost bins for £8, 330 litre bins for £10 and the 250 litre KOMP compost bin for £20.

Visit www.recyclenow.com/compost or call 0845 077 0757 for more details.

Further details about recycling can also be obtained by visiting Charnwood Borough Council’s website – www.charnwood.gov.uk – or calling (01509) 634 563.

To find out more about the monthly Farmers Market, call (01509) 634 234 or log on to www.charnwood.gov.uk/shopping/loughboroughfarmersmarket.html