Run A Muck

I have volunteered for CSV’s ‘Run A Muck’ project for over a year. You may have seen them - they’re the community composting people. Until recently they collected garden waste across Moseley, now they work in other areas of the city like Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Bordesley.

Garden waste is collected
and converted into compost

Volunteering usually involves going out on their collection rounds with the team in their truck. Sometimes it can be quite physical, aswell as a bit dirty, but I don’t wear my best clothes and they give me waterproofs for the rainy days. I’ve also found myself helping to make compost on their allotment sites, being trained to use their chipping machine or just enjoying a stroll delivering leaflets. I enjoy the day to day work that they do and it’s important to me because it is about encouraging people to recycle their waste so it can be turned into compost.

I volunteer once or twice a week in the warmer months and less so in the winter. They pay my travel expenses and buy me lunch and I’m always outside - so I’m happy! Aswell as working hard we have a good laugh and I think that’s important. Volunteering for ‘Run A Muck’ gives me something to focus on. I’m able to concentrate on the job in hand and it’s making a difference in my own community.

anonymous, August 2006

For more details on volunteering for ‘Run A Muck’ call 0121 449 1991 or check their entry in the Organisations and volunteer opportunities database