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One of the simplest ways that you and your community can help the re-cycling process is by forming a community composting initiative. As every good gardener knows, composting is a fundamental part of organic vegetable, fruit and flower production.

Community composting happens when a group of people come together and decide to arrange for their kitchen or garden waste to be composted at a central place which is still local to their community. Kitchen waste makes up around one third of all household waste, so converting this into usable garden compost considerably reduces the overall amount of waste produced as well as cutting down on what is sent to landfill. If kitchen waste is allowed to decompose on a landfill site, it can produce methane, which is one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.

Not everyone in a community has the space or the skills to have a large, fast working compost heap situated in their back yard. And it can be difficult to manage a large heap - especially when it needs turning over - this is often a challenge for seniors or people with the challenges of disability. Community composting is one answer to problems like this. It takes some of the drudgery out of gardening, if you like, leaving us free to focus on growing produce.

With community composting schemes the waste is collected from each household individually and then transformed into compost (using large, efficient composting machines and heaps). It is then returned to the households in question and can be used directly on the garden, or in containers for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. It may also be sold to other retail outlets and shops.

These sorts of projects often work best in villages or small towns and appear to promote a sense of community and involvement. community composting can also provide training opportunities and locally based jobs.

The Open University has created a video which features community composting initiatives across Britain. 'Rotters' is based in Garston, a village area and has two 'Rockets' (fast composters) which are used for kitchen waste. The rocket method of composting is suitable for any facilities like school canteens, hospitals, blocks of flats, in fact any facility where fifty people or more are producing food waste. Originally developed in Britain 'Rocket' composters are now available in the United States and Canada.

The Community Composting Network has a useful website which 'supports and promotes the community management and use of waste bio-degradable resourcessorts and promotes the community management and use of waste bio-degradable resources'. CCN also distributes a 'Guide to Community Composting' and manages a related Europe-wide Adult Training and Learning initiative called 'Growing with Compost'.

Learn more about this author, Frances Laing.
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