Food and garden waste recycle pilot project

A new food and garden waste collection scheme is to be trialled on Arran this summer.

 

Woodside Arran Community Interest Company (CIC) has received funding for the project, which will run from May until October, from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) which was set up to push forward the UK's world-class research ecosystem.

 

The group is looking for 20 householders between Kildonan and Brodick to sign up for a weekly food waste caddy collection and access to Woodside Arran CIC's garden waste collection diary.  This is an online diary where participants can book a two-day slot for a trailer to be dropped at their home for garden waste collection. This will be chipped to add carbon matter to the food waste and produce compost.

 

The project will run for 20 weeks to gauge if a larger project, which has been slow coming from North Ayrshire Council, is viable or not.

 

Woodside director Jennifer Macdonald, who runs the community farm with husband Alex, said: "As an organisation, our no dig market garden needs about 20,000 litres of compost a year and we currently import about 50 per cent of this.  We are hoping this pilot will allow us to reduce our carbon food print at the farm, while seeing if there is opportunity for an island-wide compost service to help us grow more delicious local produce."

 

The pilot scheme is currently only available to farm members but, if successful, it could be opened up to further participants next year.

 

For more information, visit www.woodsidearranshop.com/s/shop or email info@woodsidearran.com.

 

"attachment_910432" "" "300"] Vegetable planting is well under way at Woodside Farm.

 

 

Andy Macdonald, left, beside the farm's new woodchipper and Alex Davidson with the food waste caddy. NO_B14woodside01

 

Vegetable planting is well under way at Woodside Farm. NO_B14woodside02