More than 4,000 people are being asked to take part in a huge home composting project in Coventry.

Strict new laws mean that all local authorities must recycle or compost 40 per cent of household waste by 2005.

People living in Tile Hill, Eastern Green, Styvechale and Cheylesmore are being asked to take part in a year-long trial to see how much home composting reduces waste.

The areas selected will be based on current refuse collection routes.

The project, which by co-ordinated by HDRA Consultants, who are based at Ryton Organic Gardens, will encourage people to do their bit for the environment.

Two areas will be chosen for the pilot project. Residents will be given compost bins and advice and literature on what to do. There will be no cost and people can opt-out if they choose.

A third area will be used to ask householders to fill in a questionnaire about composting and recycling.

Information from the trial will help the council work out what effect composting has on the amount of waste put in wheelie bins.

It will also help the authorities decide what level of support people will need to compost their waste in the long term.

Cllr John McNicholas, Cabinet Member (Environmental Services), who will officially launch the scheme next week, said:

“Composting vegetable peelings and garden waste has a very beneficial effect on the environment and I am keen to tap into the immense amount of goodwill in the city to get this pilot underway, and eventually to pursue a city-wide scheme when it becomes viable.”