International Composting Awareness Week

3-9 May, 2026

Did you know, an estimated 300,000 tonnes of food scraps is produced annually in NZ, most of which still go to landfill?

This International Composting Awareness Week, we are encouraging households and communities to explore the benefits of composting and start your composting journey! Instead of viewing food scraps and organic materials (such as lawn and garden clippings) as waste, we should view it as a resource.

Find out more about ICAW and see some handy tips and tricks about composting below.

The 2026 theme, “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us”, highlights this essential cycle. When we apply high quality compost, we are investing in the health of our soil, ensuring it continues to provide the food, clean water, and resilience that all life depends on. This theme ties directly to UN SDG 15: Life on Land, reinforcing that protecting and restoring soil is a global priority and one of the most impactful ways we can care for the planet.

Composting empowers communities to manage their own waste, create job opportunities and support healthy soils with locally made compost.

Fascinating Facts about Composting

To close out International Compost Awareness Week we've gathered some lesser known but ...

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Resources for food scraps and community gardens

If you're not in a position to embrace the good old kiwi DIY approach to composting, ...

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The microbiology of compost - it's alive!

You know that compost is a great source of nutrients for plants - but did you know it’s ...

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What “Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost” means to Kaicycle

Kaicycle are one of hundreds of small composting initiatives around Aotearoa New Zealand. ...

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10 things you shouldn't put in your compost (and why!)

Thinking about starting a compost bin in your garden? Already got a bin but having a few ...

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