15,000 kg collected in the first 12 weeks by Hart District Council in special green sacks. This will be recycled into over 500 bags of Pro-Grow organic soil conditioner.

Councillor Mrs Band, Chairman of Hart's Environmental Health and Housing Committee says, "There has been strong support for the scheme so far with over 2,500 bags sold to people in the trial area. Households involved in the scheme are not only helping the environment but saving land from landfill and reducing disposal costs."

The 1,200 households in the trial area off Reading Road South using the service have helped to reduce the amount of organic garden waste going to landfill. Rotting garden waste in landfill sites generates the powerful greenhouse gas, methane, which contributes to global warming as well as using valuable land space. Nearly 40% of all household waste collected in the district could be composted either at home or by taking it to the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Hartley Wintney or Farnborough.

All garden waste collected is transported to a composting site in Basingstoke where it is composted for six months in large heaps called windrows. The final product Pro-Grow is available at all Household Waste Recycling Centres.

The trial will help the Council decide future waste policies and services.

Compost bins are still available from the Council at a price of £29.95 including delivery to the door. Call 01252 622122 for further details.