Missing cats and dog posters are commonplace around Brighton and Hove – but people living near St Ann’s Well Gardens are now being asked to keep their eyes out for a missing compost bin.
The bin is so heavy it had to be dismantled in order to be taken from the community compost scheme at St Ann’s Well Gardens – just a week after it was newly installed.
If the bin cannot be found, the scheme will have to find another £200 to replace it.
Sarah Davenport from the scheme said: “Our carpenter Thom installed the bins on the 24 of February. We are suspecting that someone saw him put it in. He installs them in parts, putting them together on site (as they are so heavy).
“On the following Monday, our compost monitor Jen’s partner went across to deposit their food scraps and noticed a half built bin. He assumed it was in the middle of being installed but actually it was in the middle of being nicked!
“Thom who installed the bin drove past a few days later and noticed it had disappeared. We waited to hear from Jen to double check that the composters or park ranger hadn’t moved it for any reason and then, to our surprise, realised that it had definitely been stolen.
“The community composters are extremely disappointed as their bins are filling up quickly and they are very keen to divert their food waste from landfill and incineration.
“It is also strange and disappointing that someone would steal from such a great community scheme. Thom is also equally gutted as he has newly redesigned the bins and was especially proud of this one.
“The bins cost around £200 to make and it is a council funded scheme so the money has unfortunately come from the local community. The scheme diverts around 50-60tonnes of compost each year (equivalent to about 4.8 double decker buses) and turns it in to a resource for the local community. There are currently 25 schemes across the city, not counting the privately run schemes.
“The compost scheme has been running for over six years and this has never happened before. In the future we will be filling up the newly installed boxes with lots of half rotted food and cardboard to deter thieves.”
