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Community Composting scheme plays host to international visitor
Sarah Pritchett from New Zealand has visited Lower Slaughter Community Composting Scheme, as part of her Research Fellowship into waste issues. This is focusing on how organisations successfully engage with the community on developing projects aimed at reducing waste.
Community Composting is an excellent example of this and Sarah spoke to Tom Constant about how the project in Lower Slaughter works, and how volunteers remain motivated. This is as simple as providing regular intervals for tea and biscuits, according to Tom! The Community Composting project has been running since 2004, and transforms garden waste into about 20 tonnes of compost every year, from around 60 households that are signed up to the scheme.
As part of a fact finding tour, Sarah has visited other organisations such as Waste Watch in London – a charity that helps community groups and individuals waste less, and Fareshare in Bristol – who donate over supplies of food to the needy: “Overall I have been very impressed by what I’ve seen so far. As New Zealand is such a small country in comparison to the UK, there are a lot more community based projects over here, and we can learn a great deal by seeing what you do.”
Sarah will be writing a report on her findings, which will be completed in the Autumn. She has promised to send a copy to Gloucestershire County Council as well!
Picture shows Tom Constant with Sarah Pritchett at Lower Slaughter Community Composting site.