Every autumn thousands of Great-er Manchester gardeners dump a total of 40,000 tonnes of garden waste in their household bins.

This garden waste costs ratepayers over £1 million in additional and un-necessary landfill costs.

And why does it cost so much ?

Well just imagine Old Trafford football stadium filled almost to the top! That's how much green waste is being dealt with by the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority every autumn.

The authority is determined to do something about it, and believes that the traditional end of summer garden clean-up is the perfect time to launch their latest initiative.

And it has teamed up with Messenger Newspapers to allow our readers to benefit from its campaign.

We have two home composter kits to give away in association with GMWDA. Each would cost between £11 and £14 if bought from Trafford council and more from a garden centre.

All you have to do is to examine the wordsearch grid on the right and find the hidden words: rubbish, compost, waste, environment, garden, grass, recycle, clippings and leaves.

Costly

Neil Swannick Chairman of GMWDA said:"Putting green waste in with household rubbish means that it has to be tipped into landfill sites - and that costs ratepayers money.

"Tipping is expensive and wasteful. Householders have become used to helping the environment by recycling glass, paper and other materials in specially provided receptacles. Now we want to convince them to think twice before they put green waste into the bin."

Local councils throughout Greater Manchester are participating in the campaign and are offering home composters to households in the Authority area at special discount prices, but you could get one absolutely free in our easy to enter competition.

"It's a sin to bin" leaflets and posters explaining how householders can help are available at libraries, council and public information offices throughout Greater Manchester, and the Authority has set up a special helpline number 0161 911 3583 for anyone wanting to find details about their nearest recycling centre or purchase a home composter.

How to win

To win one of the two composters, mark in the missing words on the wordsearch grid and send your completed grid to Sin to bin competition, Messenger Newpapers, Brindley House, 25, Ashton Lane, Sale, M33 6TP. Entries must reach us by Friday October 19. The editor's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.