The best solution for compost is individual worm farms in peoples back yards, but a lot of people in our nieghbourhood either have back yards about the size of the average handkerchief, or none at all.

The blackwater treatment plant discussed in the last post can process most garden waste and the compostable food waste from our kitchens. In earlier plans I'd drawn up a series of collection points around the nieghbourhood, but I think the best solution is a probably 3rd bin - we already have rubbish, and recycling, we could add a composting bin.

Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council offer their residents a 'brown bin' for their garden waste, which is taken to a local farm, shredded, composted and used on site.

Unlike C&N Borough Council, we wouldn't have to worry about pollution caused by trucks picking up the waste, because it's all being treated in locally, the waste could be picked up and delivered monthly using the old shank pony. And if you filled it more quickly, you could run it down the street yourself.

Councillor J Hammond with brown bins