Project Title:

COMMUNITY COMPOSTING

CODE; C5

Project Summary:

Community composting involves the collection of materials from local people (such as kitchen waste, grass cuttings and dead leaves), the storage and processing into compost and potting compost.  The finished product is then sold or given to local people for use in their gardens, or in Community Gardens. Various other materials can be used including animal manure and paper pulp.  If possible these schemes can be set up as part of a larger project, such as a City Farm, a Community Garden or a Recycling Centre, although if not, then as projects in their own right.

Example of Good Practice: Heeley City Farm, Sheffield & Unstone Grange near Dronfield. Note: Heeley City Farm co-ordinates the National Composting Network.

Project Management

Need specialist composting equipment and a worker to run the project and raise funds.  Volunteers should be encouraged to help run the centre, collect waste and distribute compost.  This could be part of a joint recycling and composting centre.

Project Locations:

Large sites

4

Small sites

4

Planning

Permission:

YES

Some small sites could be used as drop off and pickup points for organic waste and compost.

Oxley Park (near allotments), Pot House Wood, Knoll Top cemetery and Parsonage Farm are all potential sites to base the project.

Project Links:

• Recycling centres (E3)
• Wildflower Meadows (L1)
• Edible plants (L6)
• Pocket parks (L10)
• Biofuel planting (L14)
• Community orchards (L16)
• Sustainability trail (T1)
• Community gardens (V7)
• Community farm (V8)

Economic Implication

Funding – Set-up Costs:

Seek specialist advice (Heeley City Farm)

Sources of funding: Civic Trust, SCC, Esmee Fairburn, Shell Better Britain, New Opportunities Fund (sustainable communities)

Funding – Running Costs:

Seek specialist advice

Sources of funding: SCC, Rural Action grants, sale of recyclable items and recycling credits for waste removed from landfill.

Employment:

One or more workers.

Tourism:

Could to be presented as a visitor attraction with careful marketing.

Social Implications

Community Involvement:

The project relies on effective community involvement to provide organic waste and receive compost in return.

Schools Involvement:

The project will provide a great deal of opportunity for environmental education by relating to recycling, natural cycling, waste and waste usage.

Recreational Benefits:

This project will provide compost for gardening and allotments.

Environmental Implications

Local Agenda 21:

These projects are set up by, run by, and carried out for the benefit of local people.  The products made are used to replace peat and materials delivered from a long distance.  It is a highly sustainable endeavour as it also prevents organic materials going to landfill.

Wildlife:

The use of composted materials to replace peat will reduce the pressure to destroy the remaining peat bogs in Britain and abroad.

Project Viability

Constraints:

• Low community support.
• People’s preconceptions of the smell and mess are likely to put them off.