International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest educational initiative of the composting industry. The goal is to raise awareness of all the benefits when composting food and green organics! New Zealand, though small, plays a significant role in raising awareness about the benefits of composting and enriching our soils.
This year’s theme for ICAW is Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost! Find out more here.
How you can celebrate ICAW?
- Start up your own home composting (Learn more here)
- Read more about composting and all its benefits on our website
- Spread the word about the benefits of composting, using our resources
- Attend workshops in your local area, or tell us about your composting events
- Plant vegetables, flowers or herbs and use compost to fertilise your garden soil.
So, what is happening in New Zealand during ICAW?
There are numerous activities happening around the globe including here in New Zealand. These events feature compost giveaways, educational workshops hosted by various communities, school programs with story-time and gardening activities, as well as online events.
If you want to be included in the calendar below, fill out this form.
Compost Collective: Multiple composting workshops are hosted around the Auckland region. See what’s happening in your area.
7 May - 7-8pm; Free to attend
Harbour View Hotel, 14 Bow Street, Raglan
The Seagull Centre, based in Thames, is pioneering an exciting new initiative in the Coromandel, launching a pilot project to explore the commercial potential of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as a solution for organic waste processing. Join us for the 30th edition of Science Night as we explore this groundbreaking environmental initiative that is transforming the way we manage organic waste.
Nau mai, haere mai! Arrive early if you want to order dinner, a drink and snag a good table.
1-2pm, Wednesday 7 May 2025; Free to attend
Wi Neera Street Community Garden, 1a Wi Neera Street, Raglan
We're setting up a Hungry Bin worm farm at the Wi Neera Street Community Garden so this is a perfect opportunity for you to learn how to set one up from scratch!
We will cover:
🪱Employing wriggler worms to do your dirty work
- Worm farms and their uses.
🪱Building the right accommodation for your wriggly workers
- How to set up a worm farm. We will be setting up a Hungry Bin and discussing other types of worm farms.
🪱The contractual agreement: their needs, your needs!
- How to feed and care for your worms
🪱Wormy workplace problems and how to solve them.
- Common problems and solutions.
This is a free event, everyone is welcome to attend
Register here: www.whaingaroa.org.nz/events
Organised by: Whāingaroa Environment Centre and Xtreme Zero Waste
Saturday 3 May - 1pm-2:30pm
FREE to attend
Rotorua Library - Te Aka Mauri, 1127 Haupapa Street, Rotorua
Keen to start a compost? Compost already and want to improve? Register to attend one of our family friendly workshops exploring different types of home composting – basic compost, bokashi and worm farming. Run by Rotorua Lakes Council
Spot prizes to be won in celebration of International Compost Awareness Week!
Thursday 8 May, 12pm - 2pm; Free
Linton Park Community Centre, 16 Kamahi Place, Rotorua (or Online)
Keen to start a compost? Compost already and want to improve? Register to attend one of our family friendly workshops exploring different types of home composting – basic compost, bokashi and worm farming. Run by Rotorua Lakes Council.
Spot prizes to be won in celebration of International Compost Awareness Week!
Friday 9th May 2025, 5:30pm – 7:30pm; Free to attend;
The Envirohub, 28 Brooklands Park Drive (Next to Brooklands Zoo), Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Compost workshop demonstrating how to set up and maintain home compost, Bokashi and worm farm systems. Nibbles to follow.
Organised By: Sustainable Taranaki in partnership with NPDC
Friday 9th May 2025, 12 pm – 3 pm (Potluck 1hr Workshop 2hr); Free to Attend
The Envirohub, 28 Brooklands Park Drive (Next to Brooklands Zoo), Pukekura Park, New Plymouth
Compost workshops demonstrating how to build and maintain home compost, Bokashi and worm farms.
Register / More Information Here
Organised By: Sustainable Taranaki in partnership with NPDC
9 May; Free to attend
Mataweka Marae, 194 Tapairu Road, Waipawa
Central Hawke's Bay District Council Solid Waste team are inviting the CHB community to join in a composting demonstration to be held at a Marae. The public will learn about composting and the benefits thereof. Email CHBDC's customer services for more info.
7 May - 12-1pm; Free to attend
200 Otaihanga Road (Otaihanga Zero Waste)
Kāpiti Coast District Council's 'Love your Compost' workshop is the second in a series of workshops hosted by Hannah Zwartz. It is a introductory composting 101 workshops focusing on the different types of composting methods and how to set up your own system at home. Learn more here.
Monday 5 May, 6:30pm; Free to attend
Upper Hutt Central Library
Keen to stop sending your food scraps to landfill, but not sure the best approach? It’s daunting- there’s tumblers, worm farms, bokashi bins, DIY pallet composts… how does anyone know what path to go down?
Demystify compost with Derek from Tawai Community Garden. Learn about the differences in the options, and which is best suited for you.
Everyone who pre-registers will get a voucher on arrival for a subsidised compost solution, while stocks last!
Tim’s Garden – Composting 101 Workshop: Tim offers monthly workshops from April - June from at Tim's Garden, Gloucester Street, Nelson. Tim's Garden - Compost 101 Workshop
6 May - 1pm-2.30pm; Free to attend
Age Concern, 62 Oxford Street, Richmond 7020
Whether you’re just getting started, or need a little help trouble shooting, there’s something
for you in this workshop run by Tasman District Council. Plus, there’s some great giveaways and prizes to be won. Presenter Prashanti Lovegrove is knowledgeable and experienced in all methods of composting and passionate about encouraging householders to manage their food scraps, empowering people to turn their waste into a valuable resource. No need to register, just turn up on the day!
Saturday 3 May, 1pm - 3pm; Free - Limited Spaces
Woolshed Lodge, 106 Cattle Valley Road, Kurow
As part of International Composting Awareness week, Waste Free Waitaki have a 'How to Create Great Compost' workshop coming up in Kurow in the first weekend in May.
Limited spaces! To find out more, or book your space email wastefreewaitaki@waitaki.govt.nz or phone the Council on 03 433 0300
3 & 4 May - 1pm-3pm; Free to attend
Oamaru Community Gardens
Join Waitaki District Council at the Oamaru Community Gardens to learn about how to get the best out of composting with our composting experts! Register by emailing Waste Free Waitaki.
