A ROCKET that turns garden waste and food scraps into compost in 14 days has been launched.

The machine belongs to Just The Job, a social enterprise company that employs people with special needs in the Richmond area, and will recycle grass clippings, prunings and scraps from school kitchens.

The resulting compost will then be used by the company in its grounds maintenance work and for growing plants.

The accelerated composter, dubbed the Rocket by workers, was unveiled at Hipswell Lodge, Catterick Garrison, this week.

Just The Job employee Harry Bell tipped in the first bucket of waste as garrison commander Colonel Nick Millen pressed the button to start the machine.

Project leader Mike Palfreman said: "The rocket is loaded at one end and, just two weeks later, rich compost comes out the other end."

A traditional compost heap or bin takes about a year to turn waste into useable compost.

The project was created when Just The Job was asked by two companies -Carillon Enterprises and Sodexho Land Technology -to look at environmentally friendly ways of disposing of waste.

Just The Job director Cath Calvert said: "We were already discussing accelerated composting projects with local scientist Professor Gerald Scott.

"The project seemed an ideal way of promoting environmental good practice as well as developing opportunities for our Just The Job team."

Up to 1.5 tonnes of waste a week will be fed into the Rocket, which heats and agitates its contents to speed up decomposition.

The resulting compost is then sieved to potting, general or mulching consistency.

Mr Palfreman said: "We have had a lot of interest and are hoping to work with local businesses to expand the scheme.

"The compost will be sold and used in another project being developed by the team, which aims to grow local species for landscape restoration."

Children will also be encouraged to visit the project, which is funded by Richmondshire local strategic partnership.

Just The Job is also looking to develop biomass fuels for commercial and domestic boilers as part of a green forestry project.