Visitors to Hempton recycling centre this weekend will be given a helping hand to recycle their green garden waste. Norfolk County Council will be giving away 500 free* reusable green waste bags to make it even easier to bring hedge cuttings, lawn mowings, shrub prunings and tree clippings to the site for composting.

Visitors to Hempton recycling centre this weekend will be given a helping hand to recycle their green garden waste. Norfolk County Council will be giving away 500 free* reusable green waste bags to make it even easier to bring hedge cuttings, lawn mowings, shrub prunings and tree clippings to the site for composting.

New low level green waste bins, introduced earlier this year as part of county wide improvements to Norfolk's recycling centres, means that visitors no longer have to carry their garden waste up steps. Recycling advisors will also be on hand at Hempton this weekend to advise visitors on using the new reusable bags and new low level bins with maximum ease and safety, and answer questions.

Norfolk's master composters will also support the event, with volunteers available to provide advice on transforming kitchen and garden waste into a valuable resource for the garden at home. The reduced price bins available to Norfolk residents, with prices starting at just £8 including delivery, will be on display.

Ian Monson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Norfolk County Council said: "I'm delighted that composting garden waste at the recycling centres is getting even easier and more popular. The reusable bags will also help cut down on the disposable plastic bags used to bring garden waste to the sites. Your local recycling centres are a great options for bulky garden waste but we continue to promote the merits of home composting. We are pleased that the master composters will be available this weekend to help anyone interested in starting to make their own compost at home."

Dan Jacobs, Household Waste Technician, Norfolk County Council, added: "Last year, Norfolk's recycling centres recycled 27,000 tonnes of garden waste. The new site improvements will help us recycled even more. The sites are designed to be self service, however, we would like to remind site users to please ask staff for assistance, particular if the you are not familiar with the new containers and the wide range of materials that can now be recycled."

The free reusable green waste bag giveaway will take place at Hempton recycling centre on Saturday 4 August and Sunday 5 August between 9am and 5pm. The recycling centre is located 1/4 mile from the A1065. Take the A1065 south from Fakenham toward Swaffham where the site is sign posted on an 'S' bend. The first 250 visitors each day will receive a reusable bag.

t For more information about recycling and composting call 0844 800 8004 or visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/recycling