FCC Environment donates local compost to Highcrest Academy to celebrate National Gardening Week

FCC Environment, which operates the nine Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council, was delighted this week to be able to share the fruits of its labours by providing 15 bags of compost made from Buckinghamshire garden waste with local school Highcrest Academy.

Garden waste brought into the HRCs by residents is sent to FCC’s High Heavens Waste Transfer Station to save the bin lorries having to drive long distances. It is then bulked with garden waste collected from homes across Buckinghamshire and transported to FCC’s composting facility at Sutton Courtenay where contaminants are removed, and the material is composted via a process called Open Windrow Composting which creates a PAS 100 accredited soil conditioner which in turn can be used for agriculture, public parks, allotments and home gardens to improve the soil.

To celebrate National Gardening Week, teachers and pupils at Hillcrest Academy took delivery of 15 bags of compost for use as part of the school’s social and therapeutic horticulture programme, which is led by Samantha Mills, who works in the Inclusion Team. The pupils will use the compost to create a garden where they will grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. This will be extremely beneficial to students, especially following such a difficult year.

Gemma Green, FCC Environment’s Buckinghamshire Waste Awareness & Education Manager said: “It’s great to be able to demonstrate the circular nature of recycling garden waste which is turned into compost. I hope the pupils of Hillcrest Academy enjoy digging it into the ground and seeing the fruits of their own gardening labours.”