It can be difficult to get
things really happening at the school or relatively simple; it all depends on
some key factors being in place:
·
The whole school
community really needs to support the initiative.
·
Children and staff in
the school need to have some compost training so that everyone understands the
key concepts of composting.
·
The kitchen staff have
to be willing to separate out the compostable materials and not put plastics
and other rubbish in the compost caddy bins.
·
Each classroom needs
caddies for fruit break waste and tuck shop waste and the children have to
understand exactly what they can put in the caddies to go to the compost bins
·
A ‘eco’ or ‘little
rotters’ team needs to be set up to do the day to day work of emptying these
caddies – see www.littlerotters.org.uk for a free useful pack
·
Key staff members need
to be able to champion the scheme and do quite a bit of work. Ideally their
contracts will be altered so they are given paid time to look after the compost
system.
·
Schools ideally need
funding for the composting equipment and its set up. Composting equipment
suitable for food waste composting is expensive e.g set up cost for a Jora 270
and Hot Box is £775 or more. In Devon the Local Authority will also support the scheme financially. contact DCCN co-ordinator for more information.
·
There must be suitable
areas for both the composting and the subsequent use of the finished compost.
·
There must be a good
supply of sawdust, woodchip or shredded hedge prunings etc so that food waste
can be blended with carbon in the best form to make the compost properly. (e.g.
woodchip and freshly cut grass
blended 50/50 makes a wonderful amendment and can often solve the
problem of what to do with the grass cuttings – it may be
necessary to buy in the woodchip, but often the local Council can oblige or a
parent/governor may have a supply of shredded green waste or chippings. Only
use sawdust from sources using 100% untreated wood, preferably softwood and
avoid sawdust made from materials like MDF as it will contain some pretty nasty
noxious substances
