International Compost Awareness Week kicks off!

Join us in celebrating all the benefits of composting

International Composting 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! Because when we're repurposing the food that would go into the landfill, we're creating fresh nutrients for the soil, which regenerates the earth and provides healthier food for everyone in the community.

Seven reasons why composting is important

Aside from saving money by throwing away less trash, composting is great for the community, soil, water and the environment.

• Composting reduces landfill waste – Diverting organic waste (food scraps, yard waste) from landfills prevents the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, when organic matter decomposes without oxygen.
• Composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions – Reducing the volume of organic matter in landfill prevents the anaerobic decomposition which contribute to climate change.
• Composting conserves resources – Turning organic waste into a valuable resource rather than disposing of it, helps conserve resources and reduces the need for landfills.
• Compost enriches soil - Essential nutrients and beneficial microorganisms are added to the soil, improving its fertility and structure.
• Composting reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides – Healthy plant growth is promoted by enhancing the soils ability to retain water and nutrients reducing the need for irrigation and chemical fertilizers.
• Composting promotes healthy plant growth – Compost provides nutrient-rich soil which supports strong, resilient healthy plants that are less susceptible to diseases and pests.
• Composting reduces water pollution - Compost helps soils retain water and nutrients helping preventing soil erosion and runoff and reducing the need for irrigation and the use of chemical fertilizers which can carry pollutants into waterways.

" Information is like compost; it does no good unless you spread it around."

~ Eliot Coleman

Side note: Each year the ICAW Committee holds a poster contest to pick a design for the annual poster. The winner for 2025 is Abbie Sawyer from Athens, Georgia (poster pictured above).  Abbie explained that her poster design was carved out of linoleum, hand-printed, and digitalised to add colour and text. The top of the poster shows off the skyline of Athens, Georgia, with the green roof of City Hall visible in the top left corner.

What's happening in New Zealand during ICAW?

Learn about the all the great events here.