Compost your Valentines flowers and help protect the environment

We hope that February 14th was a day of romance, now show you love the planet! Last year, 17.8 million Valentines cards were purchased for Valentine’s Day and 10 million red roses were sent to loved ones. Much of this waste will have ended up in landfill sites - not such a romantic thought.

SABC are urging aspiring Romeos and Juliets to compost their finished cards and flowers to help protect the environment. Dead flowers are a great source of nitrogen-rich compost, which can add extra nutrients to the soil.

Cards and flowers can be put in the Council's Green Bin garden waste collection (but please remove any plastic wrapping first!). The Council takes them to a farm near Ford for large scale composting.

Another option is for people to compost them at home. Residents in the Borough and across Shropshire can benefit from a government-subsidised scheme by buying a cut-price compost bin for as little as £7. They can buy online at www.recyclenow.com/compost

If they have any queries phone the Council for more info on 01743 281155 or e-mail recycling@shrewsbury.gov.uk

James Thompson, Recycling & Sustainability Officer

Tel  01743 281039

email: james.thompson@shrewsbury.gov.uk