Chantal - Bokashi

[Chantal]

I've had around 4 pints of liquid so far which I have in fact poured down the kitchen sink as it's prone to getting blocked. I'll use it for plant feed etc in the summer.

[mandylew]

thanks for that Lynne, I've ordered it too, free delivery and £1 online discount as well! bargain. I hope this will be an improvement on the ice cream carton filled with allsorts on the drainer method i currently use which invariably draws in the little black midges after a day or so
mandy

[submariner]

Thank you Lynne. I have put an order in. It comes at just the right time, because as from second week in May, my council are supplying us with kitchen waste boxes, and fortnightly collection! I imagine that the smell after two weeks of food scraps will be awfull.
They are also giving us wheely bins. My drive slopes, at about 30 degrees upwards, from the bungalow, so I have asked the council who is going to take it to the collecting point! I am disabled and my wife, who is not the spring chicken I married 45 years ago, has mild angina. The answer was that I can leave it there all the time. When I pointed out that it would be a vandals charter, an eyesore and would block the footpath, there was as the saying goes a deafening silence!!

[Colin_M]

Thanks to Chantal and others - I've ordered one as well, so the Recycle Now people are going to be snowed under!

my council are supplying us with kitchen waste boxes, and fortnightly collection! I imagine that the smell after two weeks of food scraps will be awfull.

We've had this system for a couple of years now. There was a lot of hoohah in the local press about the problems it would bring (along the lines raised by submariner). Whilst I think a few people have had difficulty, it seemed to work fine for all the folks I know.

Of course the real point of these schemes is that they're trying to get us to think about the amount of waste we create . Of course it can be easier for gardeners because we've got the option of composting stuff for your own garden too, so it never needs to go in your bin.


Colin

[Colin_M]

For anyone who's ordered from Recycle Now, has yours been delivered yet?

I ordered mine over the Easter weekend, but had the feeling that they were a small organisation who were now getting swamped!


Colin

[Colin_M]

Ok, mine arrived today and we put our first items into it tonight.

How is yours turning out Chantal? I'm guessing that you must have produced one or two tubs worth by now.


Colin

[Chantal]

I've dumped a few bucketfuls into one of my allotment bins and it certainly doesn't smell. There's no rat activity but until I empty it out next year I won't really know. It's looking good though.

[submariner]

My bokashi bins arived today. They seem sturdy enough, but I will have to mount them on some bricks, so that I can put something under when I drain off. Watch this space!

[mandylew]

mine's not come yet

mandy

[Colin_M]

For any of you out there with these composters, I've posted a message in the tools area:
viewtopic.php?t=3789

Thanks to Chantal for her reply - anyone else?

Colin

[mandylew]

mines been here 2 weeks now, I am onto my second bin the first is brewing away nicely and i have had some liquid off, but so far just put it down the drain, it says dilute 1tsp to 5l! so ir must be strong stuff.

They are reduced in price to £23 now my friend who has just ordered tells me.

Mandy

[Colin_M]

i have had some liquid off,
it says dilute 1tsp to 5l! so it must be strong stuff.

Yes, I was wondering how to use it on the garden in the volumes the composter produces. Also what the side effects of putting too much on are.

They are reduced in price to £23 now my friend who has just ordered tells me.

It's strange isn't it. The Blackwells Bokashi composters than Recycle Now sells are so much cheaper than elsewhere (which seem to be charging £50+ for two, or £80+ for a swisher grey model from another manufacturer).

I can only assume that Recycle Now is getting some sort of subsidy. I've heard that some councils are providing them to resident free, presumably to encourage use & reduce volumes of normal black-bin collections.


Colin

[Tigger]

I wrote to my council about Bokashi bins, quoting other Councils who issue them, and they said they were too expensive to consider, especially as the Council Tax in our area was such a bargain! As I pay just short of 2K a year, for which I have to take my bin to the nearest main road and fight to get any bin bags delivered, I decided to take issue with them.

No progress yet but fight underway.....

[Johnboy]

I would hate to be the poor sod who represents the council!!!
JB.

[submariner]

I bought two for £25, however the lids are so tight that Mary has stopped fighting with them and puts a brick on top! She put one onto the kitchen counter for me to have a go at, and it took me ten minutes to properly seal it! I have phoned the recycle now help desk, (free phone)and they said that they would organise someone to come and look at it. That's what I call customer service!