![A group of master composters A group of master composters](/sites/default/files/styles/banner_image/public/paragraph_image_100/Master%20Composters%20-%20Good%20Practice%20Image.jpg?itok=0EC3_7u3)
Implementing a Home and Neighbourhood Composting scheme, with help of volunteers (Master Composters)
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About this good practice
Vlaco initiates, facilitates, supports, supervises and implements the policy of biowaste. Vlaco is a membership organisation with private and government representation.
It focuses on prevention of biowaste and raising environmental awareness. For that several methods of sensitizing/convincing are used. The use of biowaste as basic material within a small closed loop (= Biocycle at Home) is the main message. Vlaco therefore communicates about several techniques to achieve that biocycle (home composting, lawn and branches management, chicken keeping , perennial use, food waste prevention). Current ‘concerns’ are taken into account (adaptation to climate change, helping with drought issues…)
To inform, Vlaco has a ‘direct’ and a ‘indirect’ approach.
‘Direct approach’ includes organizing courses, events...; developing educational material, leaflets and articles, focus on social media; facilitating the use of compost recipients.
'Indirect approach’ consists of Master Composter (MC) training. Around 5.000 MCs have been trained the last 25 years; 2.000 are still active. MCs are volunteers that assist (inter)municipalities in promoting the BioCycle at Home, in their own municipality, in a team supported by a municipal officer. One of the reasons for the MC success is their credibility and hands-on experience; they use their own words, work in their own village, and can demonstrate things. MCs give personal or local advice. To do this properly, they use (Vlaco’s) guidelines.
Resources needed
For the moment the ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ approach costs Vlaco about € 100000 per year (material cost). Each IWA in Flanders can then take further steps with the Vlaco info and the citizens trained by Vlaco. The cost varies depending on the size and commitment of each IWA.
Evidence of success
Research shows this approach resulted (in 2018) in 41% of inhabitants that are currently home composting, and 23,90% of all biowaste that is composted (representing about – estimated – 290.000 tonnes of biowaste for Flanders).
Potential for learning or transfer
Committed citizens can be found in every municipality or IWA.
Once these committed citizens are trained and can start working, the costs are very low. At least much lower than if employees would have to be hired.
These MCs can act as a kind of satellite / informant for the municipality and IWA to know exactly what is going on locally.
The MCs can focus on the small cycle (= composting on site) but also on all previous steps (waste avoidance, creative and functional use of waste on site...).