The unique and diverse group of over 20 organisations from the National Trust and RHS to the Horticultural Trade Association and Suez, are launching a new movement called Enrich the Earth and will publish a manifesto calling for a radical rethink of how we handle organic waste in the UK.  

It urges a '"compost revolution” to increase the proportion of households composting at home and decrease levels of contamination in our garden and food waste so we can maximise its value and use it for growing.

Enrich the Earth will also demonstrate that food and green waste can be used as part of the mix to create a more sustainable alternative to peat. In partnership with Durham Council, aground-breaking trial, the first of its kind at this scale, will aim create a new compost containing up to 30% of green and food waste.  This compost will be tested with professional and amateur growers to measure effectiveness across plant types and growing conditions.

Garden centres, community gardening groups, restaurants and universities will also be involved in a concerted effort to compost garden waste and non-animal byproduct food scraps more, use wormeries and reduce contamination in organic waste collections. Learnings will be openly shared with the aim of rolling out the trial across the country. 

You will find a press release below and I have attached the manifesto. I can also organise a chat with Trewin Restorick (ex-CEO of Hubbub) who is the driver behind this collaboration if you’d like to explore in more detail, or with Simon Blackhurst, Project Director of Enrich The Earth.