Volunteers wanted to help promote home composting

Local volunteer group Shropshire Master Composters is on the lookout for volunteers from across Shropshire who want to help work to reduce waste in their area.

Volunteers will work closely with the Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council in their local communities to promote home composting, waste prevention and recycling.

Volunteers are offered high-quality training and support, and in return they give their time without payment to do a variety of community events, talks, demonstrations, school visits, public outreach programmes and publicity work – all aimed at helping to encourage home composting, and reduce waste.

As a volunteer you will receive free training in home composting and related environmental issues provided by Garden Organic.

The initial foundation training course will be held on Saturday 29 March 2014 at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust in Shrewsbury.

The course has been arranged by Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council and local waste management firm Veolia Environmental Services.

The training is delivered by composting experts from the national horticultural charity Garden Organic.

Since the Master Composters were founded in 2006, over 100 volunteers have been trained and gone on to give more than 10,000 hours of their time promoting home composting to tens of thousands of people around the county.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said:

“Shropshire’s Master Composter make a fantastic contribution to helping reduce waste in Shropshire so it’s great news that we are recruiting more volunteers to the team.”

If you are interested in becoming a Master Composter please contact James Thompson at Shropshire Council – email james.thompson@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 255989.

Who can become a Master Composter?

• Anyone over the age of 18 can become a Master Composter. You don’t need to be an expert composter already or have any volunteer or community group experience.
• All trainees get a Master Composter resource pack and will be offered a follow-up visit to a local composting site and further visits to Garden Organic Gardens in Coventry, as well as local study tours and workshops to develop your expertise following the course.
• Once the training has been completed, you will be expected to spend at least 30 hours (around four days’ work) over the following year promoting home composting as a volunteer (i.e. not as part of a paid position).
• As a Master Composter you will receive free training, free resources and travel expenses to help you do your work, sponsored by Veolia.
• Becoming a Master Composter is a great way to meet new people, learn valuable skills, and benefit from being part of a team that makes a difference.