A new scheme launched by Coastal Recycling is offering local farmers free high-grade organic compost for their farms, made from garden waste collected from across the county. Coastal Organics compost allows farmers to add vital nutrients to their soil and to maximise crop yields and quality while reducing the need for expensive fertilisers.
Coastal Organics, part of Coastal Recycling, based at Clyst St Mary, Exeter, produces over 15,000 tonnes of organic, PAS100 compost each year. The compost is made from source segregated green garden waste collected across the county which is shredded and then composted for 12 weeks during which it undergoes a rigorous sanitisation process. The resulting product is then screened into different grades and ready for farmers to collect at a time to suit them.
Richard Marsh, Director, Coastal Recycling said: “This is about recovering resources – we are turning garden waste that is collected from the households of Devon into a high-quality compost for farmers. The compost is free to farms if they collect it or we can deliver locally for a small haulage charge.”
Coastal Organics has carried out detailed analysis on the compost’s nutritional values which is available to farmers. The compost has a number of properties which will help increase crop yields.
Rob Cotton, farmer at Oakridge Farm, Mamhead, Devon explains, “We have been using this compost for 10 years now in an effort to put more organic matter into our sandy soil to improve crop yields. We are an arable farm and take about 1,500 tonnes of compost each year from Coastal Organics. We would struggle to find another supplier of this quality and quantity of compost free of charge and know that it has made a definite improvement to our soil quality over the years.”
The compost has a wide and balanced range of vital micro and macro nutrients; high organic matter in a stable form (compared to FYM, digestate and other manures); a small liming value as well as a pH buffering capacity which will minimise pH related deficiencies. Green compost also provides a range of beneficial fungi and other microbes, a critical part of healthy soils which help protect crops from pests & diseases and make nutrients available to the crops when required.
Farmers interested in collecting compost should call 01395 239416 or email lyn.chadwick@coastaluk.co.uk to arrange a collection time.
