A PROJECT in North Yorkshire could help to conserve Britain's ancient peat reserves.

Vast quantities of peat are being dug up and used to cater for the country's compost needs.

But Yorwaste, in Northallerton, is working on a composted organic product made solely from green waste, such as leaves, branches and grass clippings.

The waste management company, largely owned by North Yorkshire County Council, deals with most of the refuse generated in the county.

It aims to produce a growing medium for the horticultural market, either as a blend with, or replacement for, peat.

The firm has been running successfully for two years at the Harwood Whin landfill site, near York, and for two months at West Tanfield landfill site, near Ripon.

Green waste brought to the sites is first separated from other forms of household waste.

It is then weighed and sent to the compost area to be shredded, after which it is placed in piles to be turned regularly and left to form compost.

Yorwaste's managing director, Steve Grieve, said yesterday: "This is a very exciting development.

"Not only are we finding an efficient way to deal with household green waste, but we are also diverting it from being disposed of in landfill sites."