Green waste recycling and woodchip reuse

Green waste

The council's Grounds Maintenance Direct Services Operations (DSO) generate significant amounts of green waste. 

This green waste is a by-product from the management of our key sites such as Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, our parks and gardens and formal flower and shrub beds.

When we took over the management of Fairlight Place Farm at Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, we inherited three large concrete sided silage clamps. These concrete 'bays' allow the council's DSO to bring their green cuttings here to turn it into compost. 

The compost generated is turned over and moved from one bay to another, until we end up with a product that can be recycled back onto the flower beds and shrub beds. 

It is then used as a soil improver, or is spread onto our arable fields to help increase fertility.

Woodchip Reuse

The council's key ambition is to recycle and reuse as much material as possible from our parks and open spaces. 

This means we reduce costs, reduce the need to purchase compost or soil improver and thereby help reduce any adverse impacts on the environment.

Our tree contractor Elite Arborists also generate substantial amounts of material.  Trees that are cut down are cut up and the wood stored at the farm.  The wood is then taken to be processed for bio-fuel. 

Significant amounts of woodchip are also generated from the tree contract.  Again, we store that at the farm. 

Our grounds maintenance DSO uses this on shrub beds as a mulch material, thereby forming a natural weed suppressant and reducing our need to use herbicides.