New compost system to keep community garden growing

JULIA WADE

Vegetable peelings, discarded sandwiches and meal leftovers, which were heading for landfill, are now being turned into black gold by Kaipara’s official environmental organisation, who are collecting local food scraps for a planet saving project.

Beginning in February, Sustainable Kaipara (SK) implemented a food waste pick-up service for Mangawhai households and businesses unable to accommodate a compost or safe disposal method, delivering their scraps instead into Mangawhai Community Garden’s state-of-the-art compost system.

The scheme has a threshold of 50 households and three businesses and, to date, 44 homes and one business has already signed up.

One of three SK directors, Stephanie Gibson says it is exciting the way the community has embraced the scheme.

“I love the reaction from people when I drop off their kerbside bin, they just say 'I'm so excited about this and thank you!'” she says. “Our aim is to sign up households who don't have a compost setup and are sending their food scraps to landfill.”

To lay the groundwork for the compost pick-up service, The CarbonCycle Company installed a compost bin at the Moir Street Mangawhai Community Garden last November for SK to trial-run. With a capacity to compost large volumes of waste at high temperatures, the bin is also able to take on compostable packaging and is capable of converting over five tonnes of organic matter into compost per year.

Sustainable Kaipara also conducted an in-depth feasibility study with Impact Consulting, which Gibson says helped them understand the potential demand for composting services, the different methods available and the geographic spread of Kaipara in terms of servicing.

“The study also highlighted the key point that composting is not only an excellent way to reduce waste going to landfill, but that it also feeds our depleted soils so nutritious food can be grown.”

Buried in landfills with other matter and receiving little circulating oxygen, food leftovers are harmful to the environment as they produce large amounts of methane, a toxic greenhouse gas even more destructive than CO2. However, the same waste can be a valuable resource if treated right Gibson says.

“The study recommends composting at home when you can, establishing community compost hubs across Kaipara and exploring larger scale compost facilities,” Gibson says. “We will be presenting our findings to Kaipara council later this month and hope to garner further support and investment in this vital piece of our waste management puzzle.”

n For more information, including a video of the bin install and first compost load being made, visit sustainablekaipara.org/project/the-compost-project/

“Composting is not only an excellent way to reduce waste going to landfill, but that it also feeds our depleted soils so nutritious food can be grown.”

The green-fingered volunteer crew from Mangawhai Community Garden digging in happy, healthy dirt. A thumbs up and celebratory wave from Sustainable Kaipara’s directors Stephanie Gibson (left, in hi-viz) and Kate Matheson (centre, arms raised), with community gardener Ali Bain (right, in hi-viz) who collects compost bins on Friday mornings. SK director Sarah Bray (far right, sunglasses) is with her newest team member Caren Davis. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

“After four months of awesome mahi, our first load of compost has hit the ground,” says Stephanie Gibson. “And soon will move on to feeding the soils of the amazing Mangawhai Community Gardens. Thank you to all those who were a part of this – the people, the microorganisms and the worms