Local Composting

Here's where we are at as a 'Composting' group.

Some of us (Grant, Kay, Tina, Eve and myself) managed to meet just before Christmas and had a very productive meeting at Rose & Crowns pub. We have discussed both topics - Local Composting Scheme and Energy from Food Waste and came up with ideas/action to implement:

1. To set up a community compost on an alotments' plot where local people/people who use the alotment could dispose of their garden waste and then the compost would be used localy (by the people who contributed)
   • Task: Jana/Eve will find out if there is a possibility to do a pilot scheme at one of the local allotments
   • Task: Find out where do the leaves/grass from local parks end up (talk to Stephen Cole)
2. To set up a compost-share scheme - grant came up with a nice slogan: 'Compost corner on every street' - this would be a compost bin/heap in somebody's garden and neighbours would be able to 'chip-in' and then enjoy the results. (Trevor has already set up a scheme like this in his garden and awards contributers with the fruits of his work (mostly vegetables!)
   • Task: Jana will find out from Trevor about his scheme and how does it work
3. (Help) to set up a prototype of an 'Energy from food waste company' localy, that would use local waste to produce 'ecotricity'
   • Task: Grant will find out who is responsible for waste at the Ealing Council
   • Task: Kay will talk to Alex Smith about the ecoenergy scheme

We were all pretty excited about these plans.

Since the meeting, there has been some development regarding the 'community compost scheme': the growing group met with Stephen Cole (council allotments manager) last night and he has confirmed that they can have two allotments on Pope's lane. They are applying for funding of up to £1500 from Capital Growth.And they need compost!

As Grant says: 'This could be the ideal place to set up a community composting scheme, trial it, and if it's successful, roll it out to other sites.'

I think this is great idea!! And major break-though - we now have space to get started! Let's talk about how to proceed at our next meeting! (We need to liase with the 'Growing group' and co-ordinate our efforts.)

If you want to join in, please email me at jana.bartlett@ealingtransition.org.uk.