Hens used to reduce rubbish

RESIDENTS in the Doubs are being encouraged to keep hens to eat their rubbish and reduce the amounts left for refuse collectors to take.

The department’s rubbish collection agency, Sybert, says: “A chicken can peck up to 150kg of rubbish in a year. It therefore becomes good economic sense to keep hens. They eat your rubbish and turn it into eggs.”

Fifteen families are testing the scheme, called “Hens for my rubbish,” from March to June and will weigh their bin each time to see if they do put out less rubbish.

They will also be given advice on proper care of their hens.

Last September Doubs capital Besançon moved to encourage people to recycle more and started a new collection tariff which varies according to the weight of the household rubbish.

The hens plan follows a similar initiative in the small Sarthe village Pincé last year.

Photo:Thegreenj