A VOLUNTARY garden waste collection scheme has seen a spike in demand for compost as people stuck at home because of coronavirus try their hand at growing their own food.
Staff at Teesdale Conservation Volunteers, better known as Rotters Community Composting, are offering to deliver compost to people’s homes, while the annual garden waste collections will begin this week, unless they are told otherwise.
Martin Bacon, of Rotters, said: “We are fully operational and will be conducting green waste collections plus compost and raised bed deliveries with extra attention to the safety of Rotters members and our team.
“We think Rotters will be particularly useful this year because most of us will be confined to their homes and many keen to grow own food.”
He added: “With deliveries we have said we will drop it [compost] off on their driveway – please don’t come out and see us.”
However, the group’s site at Startforth is closed to the public until further notice but people can make payments over the phone or through the group’s website.
Rotters has also seen a surge in the number of people asking for raised beds.
Rotters famously started making “Brexit beds” last year for people who feared the UK leaving the European Union would leave a shortage in fresh food.
Mr Bacon said: “We have just made another 20 and we have six already ordered.”
Anyone who wants to sign up for garden waste collections or to order a delivery of compost or a raised bed can contact Rotters on 01833 690022.
Alternatively, go online to www.rotters.org.
