Here’s a success story.  At its heart is a partnership between local councils and their communities.

The three council ‘Compost Revolution’

Three adjoining Sydney Councils (Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick) combined to share resources and a state government grant, part of which was used for a project called, The Compost Revolution.  Here is a summary of the project by Waverley Council’s Food Waste Reduction Officer, Lauren Michener:

“The Compost Revolution was created out of the need for an effective organic waste management solution that would engage our community to actively avoid food waste, become interested in sustainability, and build a sense of community.

The Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia is a densely populated urban area where around 40% of domestic waste comprises food waste. Randwick and Waverley Councils received funding from the NSW Environmental Trust to trial an innovative community composting project.

Results from the year long trial involving 580 households proved that compared to conventional waste management methods, this approach had some very significant benefits. People’s behaviour changed, almost 98% of participants reduced the food waste they made, over half started to grow more food, and three quarters talked to their neighbours or friends about composting.

Independent modelling of these results demonstrated potential cost savings in the millions, greenhouse gas emission savings of up to 7% as well as significant environmental and social sustainability outcomes. What started as a project to address food waste evolved into a much broader community sustainability program with groups of neighbours, schools and community organisations connecting over compost and keeping up the momentum long after the official project finished.”

We’re so much more effective when we partner up, governments and communities, don’t you think?