Be part of the Compost Revolution

Home Compost Trial

Our Compost Revolution is well underway and we have 280 households successfully composting and reducing their waste to landfill. It’s going so well we decided to do a second round.

Home Compost Trial 2

We are looking for 300 households who would like to try composting and learn about food waste reduction. We’ll provide kitchen collector bins, compost bins or worm farms, training, help and advice and even some herbs. All we ask is that you participate in the trial for up to 12 months and give us feedback on how you go.

We are seeking a range of participants, people living in a house or an apartment block, with garden or no garden, experts at composting, those who have tried with limited success and those who know nothing about it.

Over the year we’ll help you with tips and trouble shooting for your composting and will be holding further optional workshops in advanced composting, compost clinics, gardening, cooking and shopping to avoid food waste and more.

The average compost bins we will be giving out are 300L, with some larger 440L bins to give to apartment blocks.

Residents will be informed of their selection in early November and we will
begin with compost workshops in mid November - early December. These 2 hour
workshops will be held in the community gardens or community centres, with
weekend, weekday and evening sessions. After the training you will receive
your compost bin and kitchen collector bin and you?re ready to begin your
composting way of life.
 

Applications open 26 October 2009. If you are a Waverley or Randwick Council resident and would like to be a part of the trial please fill out an application form (Deadline for applications 15 November 2009).

If you have missed the deadline but are interested in further trials or would like more information please e-mail the Food Waste Reduction Officer laurenm@waverley.nsw.gov.au.

Why a compost revolution?

Food waste accounts for around 30% of waste in general waste bins in NSW. Food waste includes food scraps but also food that is spoiled or out of date, and leftovers.

Studies in Australia have shown that out of five bags of food we buy, one bag will be thrown away. Food waste can be reduced through improved shopping, better storage and organisation, and clever cooking.

When food waste goes to landfill it slowly rots producing potent greenhouse gases and contributing to harmful leachate.

But is food waste even waste?

..Or the start of a beautiful thing called compost?

Turning food scraps and garden clippings into compost is not just about avoiding waste but holding on to those valuable nutrients and using them to nourish soil, leading to a healthier garden that requires less water and no synthetic fertilisers.

People that compost have been shown to adopt other sustainable practices as well; they start thinking about their waste, buy less packaging and recycle more. By composting at home you are cutting down waste, keeping trucks off the road, preventing greenhouse gas emissions, saving landfill space and creating your own wonderful product.

For more reading on composting read our 'Recycle Organic Waste' action.