Posted by by the Gubba Team
29th Apr 2022
Compost your organic waste - with limited or no space!
International composting week has us thinking about all things composting; compost bins, worm farms, bokashi… whatever method you choose, diverting your organic waste from landfill is fantastic, and comes with many benefits for both you and the planet.
Unfortunately, an eye-watering 50% of the waste that goes to landfill here in Auckland is organic, meaning it could be composted and recycled back into the soil. All those valuable nutrients from your kitchen scraps are lost once trapped in landfill! And if that isn’t bad enough, this waste releases Methane as it anaerobically rots, a leading contributor to climate change. The scale of the problem can certainly seem overwhelming! But in fact there are many effective ways we can contribute to the solution on an individual level, and yep, you guessed it - composting is a big one.
However, we know there can be barriers to composting. You may not have the space, or simply don’t have access to a garden to bury your compost or bokashi product. There are many factors that might make composting difficult for your particular lifestyle. Luckily, there are a couple of clever initiatives that can help you start composting regardless of where you live - read on for the run-down!
Introducing ShareWaste, a free initiative brought to you by the Compost Collective. ShareWaste is a web app that facilitates urban composting, by connecting Kiwis who have organic waste with neighbours who have the means to compost them. Once you’ve signed up, you can connect with members who have room for organic waste in their compost bin, worm farm or bokashi bin, or are after scraps to feed their animals. Simply find a host in your area using the map, connect with them, and deliver your scraps (we also think it's a great way to meet like-minded people in your community!).
Each host has their own requirements about the scraps they accept, so check around to find someone who suits you. If you have no garden but can manage a bokashi bin in your home, ShareWaste is perfect - you can continuously bokashi your scraps, and donate the nutrient-rich product without having to complete the composting process yourself in your own garden.
ShareWaste is also great for avid composters on the go; now when you travel, you can find a host to take your scraps and turn them into soil for you. ShareWaste is not only NZ-wide, but is also available in many areas around the globe, so be sure to check next time you're away from home.
If you’re already a compost enthusiast, and have the capacity to accept more organic waste, we encourage you to consider becoming a host. We love the idea behind this free initiative, and are so excited to see how accessible composting is becoming for everyone. Happy composting Gubba gardeners!
