Community composting of biowaste in occupational center

By project CORE

Published on 04 August 2023

Spain

Castilla-La Mancha

About this good practice

This practice has the follow objectives:
• The composting area consists of 4 composters of 2 m³ each and a structuring box. The composters used are of Austrian design.
• Revalue bio-waste and reduce waste generation.
• Apply actions in the direction of sustainable develop (ecologic, social and economic).
• Self-management of biowaste through composting in an occupational centre.
• Transform 900 kg/month of biowaste in more than 1 ton of compost for year approximately.
• Use the compost obtain for the users of the occupational centre to replace the commercial substratum to grow plants in the greenhouse.
• Train of responsible and users of the occupational centre in the methodology of composting.
• Improve citizens´ environmental education with real cases of easy dissemination

Resources needed

- The initial investment is 10,650 € in bins, composters, composting control and tools and training material.
- For the composter control and the application the Occupational Centre will allocate 0,2 persons/year.

Evidence of success

The amount of organic waste treated is more than 5,000 kg. Reduction in the generation of household waste and the treatment costs.

Is expected to obtain about 100 kg/month of compost. It will be supplied to the gardens of the participant centers.

This experience helps to:
- Encourage the active participation of various administrations
- No contaminating and and reduces the consumption of substrate and fertilizers for the occupational center.

Potential for learning or transfer

- This attitude is easy to being able to transfer it to other centers of similar characteristics and also to domestic households and community composting.
- Improve citizens environmental education with real cases of easy dissemination.
- Ease of transferring knowledge about biowaste, monitoring the composting area, the methodology for operating the composter, and the uses of harvested compost.
- The relationship between the investment in the composting area and the savings on the inputs needed for the greenhouse and green areas (substrates and fertilizers) is positive.
- Consequently, by separating organic waste in the kitchens, the recovery of glass, paper, and lightweight packaging also increases.