WEST Somerset residents are being offered free composting bins during May through a recycling promotion being run by the district council. Hundreds of 220-litre composting bins have been bought by the council for those who ask for them, and will be delivered free on a first-ordered, first- served basis while stocks last. The promotion launch was timed to coincide with National Composting Week, which ends on Monday. This is the latest in a phased series of changes to the way in which household waste is collected in West Somerset. The aim is to move towards achieving Government targets on recycling by removing biodegradable material from the waste chain at source. Cllr Ann Foxhuntley, who holds the environment portfolio, said: "By giving away composting bins to our residents, we are making it as easy as possible for them to take part in the recycling initiatives which we are introducing. "On average, one third of the waste collected from households is organic material which can easily be composted instead. "Our residents are displaying huge enthusiasm for recycling initiatives and have put West Somerset at the forefront of the waste management changes which are being adopted right across the county. "So, I am confident they will continue to be enthusiastic and will make the most of this free offer to receive a composting bin. "By so doing, they will be helping to protect the environment by reducing the pressure on landfill sites which we know are rapidly becoming full. "Composting is, after all, just nature's way of recycling materials and it provides an ideal soil conditioner as a substitute in the garden for peat. "You do not need a large garden or to have green fingers to make compost - it can be done quite simply by using kitchen scraps. "By composting at home, residents will be doing their bit on a personal level to tackle global warming as they will be reducing the amount of methane - one of the 'greenhouse gases' - which is generated by biodegradable material in landfill sites." To order free composting bins, write directly to the suppliers, Original Organics Ltd, Unit 9, Langlands Business Park, Uffculme, Devon, EX15 3DA or by phone the company on 01884 841515. Successful orders for composting bins will be delivered in the period up to June 24. Recent changes to the waste collection service have meant that garden waste can no longer be put into black bags with other household waste. Instead, it has to be composted at home or taken to a civic amenity centre, or residents can hire a wheelie bin or buy non-reuseable paper sacks to be collected fortnightly by the council's contractors. In recent weeks, the council has also expanded its recycling services to include the kerbside collection of glass and cans as well as paper and card. More information about the council's recycling and refuse collection services is available on  the council's website at http://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk">www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk or by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or by telephoning 01643 703 704. New recycling services are being introduced right across Somerset to increase to 40 per cent the amount of household waste which is recycled countywide. This has been helped by a £5.5 million Defra grant for Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) of local authorities to buy vehicles and containers.