Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has launched a communal composting trial in the sheltered housing units of Arthur Bennett Court in Swindon.

The trial, which is being funded by Swindon Borough Council, works using a specialist machine called the Jora 270, that can cope with large amounts of kitchen waste generated from numerous flats.

Kate Robinson, the Trust’s Waste Prevention Officer, explained: “Multi-occupancy buildings with communal gardens are often denied the facility to compost, which is a great shame especially for those residents who may have composted before and who are keen gardeners.

“This scheme makes home composting a real option for residents in flats and also helps the environment by keeping kitchen waste out of landfill."

Arthur Bennett Court was an obvious choice for the trial as residents were keen to start composting their kitchen waste.

“The residents had requested compost bins as part of their Environmental Improvements Programme bid in 2007,” says Chris Franks, Head of Housing Property, Swindon Borough Council.

“Residents were keen to trial this system to establish if it would be easier to manage than the standard compost heap.”

If successful, the scheme could be rolled out to other sheltered housing units in Swindon.

The residents are keen gardeners and have won the Communal Category of the Tenants Garden Competition for three years running, being the overall winners in 2006.

Chief resident gardener, Keith Badenski, designed the garden a few years ago and he and his wife Patsy have worked hard with a team of residents to create beautiful communal flower gardens for all to enjoy.