Segment: Reducing Waste Strategies
Episode: Spring 2019, Ep04
Presenter: Nigel Ruck
TX Date: 28th September 2019

As humans, we leave a lot of waste, but a lot of it can be reused and recycled in your garden.

• Composting dates back around 12,000 years, and is the best thing you can do to recycle food scraps and biodegradable house waste such as paper and some cardboard. The key is to get the right balance between wet and dry, or nitrogen and carbon.
• Water is our most precious resource, so harvesting rainwater is a great idea – all you have to do is install some rain tanks. You can also use grey water, such as from your dishwasher or shower, to water your garden.
• Not only will coffee grounds keep snails and slugs out of your garden, they’ll provide beneficial nutrients, such as nitrogen and potassium. Coffee grounds work well when mixed into a compost, or even when you sprinkle them over the garden.
• You can use toilet paper roles to protect your seedlings – trim them down to about 2 inches height and press them into the soil around your seedlings. This will serve as an added layer of protection from pests.
• Most nut shells, including pistachios and peanuts, will help to aerate your soil – make sure to wash off any salt or seasoning before adding the shells to the garden.