Gardeners have plenty to muck over this week following the launch of a national campaign to highlight composting.The celebration of all things compostable includes the chance to win £100 of gardening vouchers and garden visits to see how the experts do it.

Don't waste it - compost it... That is the message to gardeners this week as part of of a national drive to promote composting.

The celebration of all things compostable includes the chance to win £100 of gardening vouchers, and garden visits to see how the experts do it.

In Norfolk, events are taking place until Sunday at places including The Forum in Norwich, Blickling Hall, Sandringham, Thetford Forest and Whitlingham Country Park, just outside Norwich.

The city council is considering a community composting scheme, too. The search is on for people to take part in a neighbourhood composting scheme, which, if successful, could be rolled out across Norwich.

An average household can divert 150kg of useful organic waste a year from landfill sites by home composting.

And the initiative aims to promote the practice among people who might not have enough space for their own compost bin, or where someone might not generate enough compost of their own and would rather share a bin.

This could involve any group, including people who use community centres, nurseries and schools, or groups of people in places such as flats, sheltered homes or care homes.

Becky Heath, Norfolk's master composter co-ordinator, said: "Making compost is a really simple thing that you can do at home to transform kitchen and garden waste into a useful resource. We hope the events will provide an opportunity for people to find out

more about composting and enjoy

a great day out at the same time."

When sent to landfill, organic waste breaks down without oxygen and produces methane, contributing to global warming. Yet almost anything organic can be composted, from shredded documents and scrunched-up cardboard to mussel shells and grass clippings.

Master composter Charles Mutty opened his garden at Poringland, near Norwich, for people to visit over the long bank holiday weekend.

Mid Suffolk District Council is giving away free soil improver to thank local people for their recycling efforts. It has been made from garden waste collected from three recycling centres, including one at Brome, near Eye.

Residents can take a spade and a container to Needham Market Lake, next to the Mustard Pot, from 9am to 1pm on Saturday and help themselves.

Buying a compost bin in Norfolk this week could win you £100 of garden centre vouchers.

The Recycle Now Home Composting Campaign has organised a competition for anyone in the Norfolk Waste Partnership area. People who place an order will qualify for a chance to win the vouchers, given by DHL, which delivers the bins.

Check out www.recyclenow.com/

compost or phone 0845 077 0757 for details.

For further information about events this week, call 0844 800 8004 or visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/compost

For information about the Norwich community composting schemes, call 01603 212009 or email communications

@norwich.gov.uk See also the Composting Awareness Week website at www.

compostawarenessweek.org.uk