Blooming brilliant: Urban compost to divert landfill

ALMOST 15,000 tonnes of organic waste could be diverted from landfill if community composting schemes were set up in all Dublin apartment blocks, according to EPA.

Ireland urgently needs to reduce the amount of waste it is sending into dumps, as from next January the country could be facing fines of up to €500,000 per day unless we reduce by 50% the amount of biodegradable municipal waste we are sending to landfill.

A research project completed by Ballymun Regeneration Limited, and funded by the EPA over two years, demonstrated that group composting schemes work in urban settings and help deepen a sense of community.

Residents at up to 100 apartments at Ballymun took part in the scheme, whereby they were asked to drop off organic waste at a composting shed three to four times per week.

Text messaging was used to remind residents when the composting shed was open and to provide details of composting meetings and gardening workshops.

A city council official was also on hand at these times to answer any questions about what residents should and shouldn’t be disposing of.

All the compost generated from the Ballymun project was used at the nearby Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin to grow strawberries, potted grass, lettuce and Bachelor button flowers.

It was also used to develop balcony gardens at the iconic flats.

Studies at the gardens showed the compost conformed to the chemical, physical and nutritive standards needed to help plant generation — providing proof the residents were following rules around proper composting.

Dr Brian Donlon of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Assessment said urban composting will not solve our over reliance on landfill but it is “going in the right direction”.

Urban community composting has the potential for significant social, environmental and economic benefits, according to the findings of the research project.

The first ever European Week for Waste Reduction is taking place this week.