The Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire will be rewarding residents on August 31 for using their food and garden waste collection service, by giving away free soil improver, which has been produced at the High Heavens compost facility.

Nearly a third of all households in Buckinghamshire receive food and garden waste collections. The waste is sent to the High Heavens compost facility to be turned into soil improver. Approximately 20,000 tonnes of soil improver is produced each year.

Residents are being encouraged to attend the compost takeaway event to collect their free soil improver, which can help improve the quality of their soil and garden.

David Carroll, Lead Spokesperson for Waste said, "Residents using the food and garden waste collection service have helped Buckinghamshire to divert 54,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste from landfill. To thank them for their commitment to recycling we would like to encourage them to come along to the compost takeaway event and benefit from the free soil improver they have helped us to produce."

The event will take place at High Heavens Compost facility, Clay Lane, Booker between 10am and 6pm. Residents are asked to wear sensible shoes, bring their own bags, gloves and a spade.

Residents can also take the opportunity to book a place on our open day, where they will be given a guided tour around the composting facility and be shown how their food and garden waste is transformed into soil improver. It will also allow visitors to raise any concerns or queries they may have about the composting process or facility.

The tours will take place on 31st August 2007, at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm. Each tour will last approximately 45 minutes. To book your free place please call 01494 475430. Bookings will be taken on a first come basis.

Local authorities are coming under increasing pressure to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste reaching landfill sites. As landfill tax is set to increase, Buckinghamshire councils face fines of up to £150 per tonne of biodegradable rubbish that is sent to landfill.

For more information please contact Anushka Desai, Communications Officer on 01296 387677.