Otter Rotters: Stop community composting being crippled by disproportionate government agency fees

This is a very popular, well-used local service:

Welcome to Otter Rotters

Otter Rotters is an established not-for-profit community enterprise based in East Devon. Our primary aim is to find a sustainable way to tackle, at a local level, the growing problem of domestic waste disposal, in particular the organic fraction. We believe that waste is a resource which should be processed, re-used or recycled as near as possible to where it came from, not transported by road across the country for centralised treatment, unless there is no other alternative. Throughout the many challenges it has overcome, Otter Rotters has striven to continue to provide local green waste composting and resource management. Otter Rotters also aims to contribute to the social capital of the community by providing opportunities to disadvantaged groups and individuals: "to encourage and value the participation and involvement of individuals marginalised by society, including those with learning and mental health problems." Solutions are brought about by a combined effort by those involved, and Otter Rotters is a great example of how each community can create its own solutions. NEW! You can now purchase our products using PayPal! Clickhere to view our Online Shop!

Otter Rotters have been involved in three areas of recycling:

But this service is under threat:
‘Crippling double blow’ for Otter Rotters - News - Sidmouth Herald
http://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/show_your_support_for_otter_rotters/

SOMETHING'S ROTTEN IN THE WORLD OF COMPOSTING  

This is the time of year when you used to be able to leave all your garden waste in a kerbside collection bag for Otter Rotters to take to their community composting site at Fenny Bridges. You may not be aware, but this valuable local service providing organic compost, jobs and training has had to close because it cannot afford costly new permits (to make compost!) which the environment agency has introduced. The Rotters say other community recycling groups have had their fees waived –but that hasn’t happened in Devon and Cornwall. 

That excellent campaigning site 38 degrees (the angle at which an avalanche happens) has an online petition which you can sign :

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-community-composting-being-crippled-by-disproportionate-government-agency-fees

Let’s start an avalanche of support for Otter Rotters: please sign the petition right now and tell your friends about it as well.   

Sustainable Ottery » Community groupHome Page » Sustainable Ottery

STOP COMMUNITY COMPOSTING BEING CRIPPLED BY DISPROPORTIONATE GOVERNMENT AGENCY FEES

TO: THE RT HON OWEN PATERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

Dear Owen Paterson MP

Green waste composting is an important part of any rural area. For 13 years Otter Rotters, with its learning disabled teams, has been playing a vital role for East Devon. That is under threat because the Environment Agency is now charging fees geared up to big companies, which are unaffordable for a community-based non-profit like Otter Rotters. The Municipal Waste Strategy Plan for Devon says "Smaller scale facilities which follow the Proximity Principle will be preferred" but this is impossible if the Environment Agency is not allowed to vary fees to represent the smaller scale of community schemes.

Please urgently revise the exemption ceiling of 60 tonnes or introduce a intermediate fee that does not exclude community groups on the grounds of affordability.

Yours sincerely

Otter Rotters

Stop Community Composting Being Crippled by Disproportionate Government Agency Fees | Campaigns by You


The District Council has always worked closely with this excellent service:

Garden Waste

East Devon District Council are working in partnership with Otter Rotters, a not-for-profit organisation, collecting garden waste from residents in East Devon.

Otter Rotters collect green waste on a fortnightly basis from the following areas. Please click on your area for a collection timetable.
Axminster, Colyford, Colyton, Musbury (252KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Cranbrook (321KB JPEG Image - 16 July 2013)
Dunkeswell, Payhembury, Colestocks, Broadhembury (247KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Exmouth North (see map) & Budleigh (331KB JPEG Image - 06 September 2013)
Feniton, Talaton, Whimple (242KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Honiton (263KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Ottery St Mary (222KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Seaton (231KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Sidmouth North, Sidbury, Sidford (276KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
Sidmouth South, Newton Poppleford, Tipton St John (251KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)
West Hill (214KB JPEG Image - 15 March 2013)

The service is offered on a pay per use basis, with all the garden waste being recycled sustainably in a traditional windrow system.

If your town or village is not listed Otter Rotters are asking for these residents to register their interest.

You can contact Otter Rotters by telephone on: 01404 549055, by Otter Rotters emailor via the Otter Rotters website

How the Scheme Works

1.    Buy a reusable Otter Rotter garden bag for £4.00 from authorised outlets
2.    Buy tag(s) - each tag allows one garden waste bag to be emptied.
3.    On collection day put your bag(s) out on the kerbside with the right number of tags, under a good sized stone.
4.    The collection crew will empty your bag(s), collect the tag(s) and place the stone into your bag to stop it blowing away.

Otter Rotters can collect

Grass, bush prunings, hedge clippings, branches and leaves.  Please do not overfill the bag as the collection crew will not be able to lift it onto the vehicle.

Please leave out

Plastics, rubbish, stones, cat or dog waste and pet bedding.

Other services available

In addition to your fortnightly green waste collection service Otter Rotters also provide garden maintenance including mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, tree pruning, garden clearances and larger special collections. Otter Rotters also deliver compost and mulch (delivery is free on rounds days). A man and chipper, or chainsaw operator is also available for hire.

Otter Rotters welcomes new members and volunteers to participate in their community activities. If you would like to find out more please contact Otter Rotters.

Page last updated on 6 September 2013

East Devon District Council - Garden Waste
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