Garden waste

How is garden waste recycled?

When you recycle your garden waste, it can be transformed into compost that helps grow food, restore landscapes, and nurture parks and gardens across Wales.

Once collected, garden waste is taken to a composting site where it is shredded into smaller pieces. These are then laid out in long rows called windrows and left to decompose.

The windrows are turned periodically to allow oxygen into the mixture. This encourages the growth of bacteria and fungi – microorganisms that speed up the composting process. During decomposition, the temperature inside the windrow reaches around 60 degrees Celsius, which kills off any harmful pathogens, weeds, and plant diseases.

Once the material has completely broken down, it becomes rich, dark compost. This is then used by farmers and growers to produce food, as well as in parks and public gardens – providing a natural alternative to peat or artificial fertilisers.