A SOMERSET councillor and self-employed gardener has offered advice for residents needing to get rid of their garden waste.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) reopened 11 of its recycling centres to essential journeys on Monday (May 11), with the remaining five following on May 26.

The SWP’s garden waste collections service has also resumed – though the usual restrictions about what can be accepted remain in place.

Now Adam Dance, who represents the South Petherton ward on South Somerset District Council, has given advice for people struggling to re-use or dispose of their garden waste.

While grass cuttings are being accepted at recycling centres, the resumed green bin collections do not accept turf – so how do you get rid of it if you’ve been using lockdown to remove parts of your lawn?

Mr Dance, who runs his own gardening and landscaping business, said: “The simplest way to get rid of turf is to lift it using a sharp spade – make a one foot (30cm) cut to create sections, then slide it underneath the grass without taking out too much soil.

“Make piles of it alternately upside down – grass to grass – somewhere shady, under a hedge for example, and allow it to compost.

“This will take a couple of months, then you can pick out any roots left then use it as topsoil.”

There is no “legal alternative” to get rid of turf – dumping it in woods, hedges or on public land is a fly-tipping offence and could lead to you being prosecuted by your district council.

Under normal service, there is no charge at recycling centres for a “single carrier bag or less per week” of soil or hardcore – though any amount larger than that is charged at £3.90 per bag.

However, centres in Somerset are not currently accepting either material due to the ongoing pandemic.

Mr Dance suggested: “You could either bag it up and offer it to neighbours, maybe via social media, or by putting it out in front of your property with a ‘take me away’ notice – topsoil actually has quite a lot of financial value.

“You could also add it as a top dressing to your own flower beds, or mix it with compost for pots or hanging baskets.”

The SWP has encouraged more people to compost their garden waste, with advice being published on its official website (www.somersetwaste.gov.uk).

Mr Dance said: “When composting, make sure you remove seedy weeds before putting them into compost as they will later spoil the compost by starting to grow.

“With Spanish bluebells for example, compost the leaves but keep the flower heads separately until you can dispose of them safely.

“Please do not light bonfires as they cause pollution, are bad for asthmatics, and are part of the damage to atmosphere which contributes to global warming.”