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In 2003, Aberdeen Forward introduced a Master Composter Programme into Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Council areas. The Master Composter Programme, which was devised in the US, is designed to promote effective home composting, aiming to increase participation rates in composting and provide high quality environmental education.
Overview
Aberdeen Forward is a small not-for-profit company, established in 1999 to fund and support local waste minimisation and recycling projects.
In 2003, Aberdeen Forward introduced a Master Composter Programme into Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Council areas. The Master Composter Programme, which was devised in the US, is designed to promote effective home composting, aiming to increase participation rates in composting and provide high quality environmental education.
Plan
The project idea
The project aimed to raise awareness of composting, encourage more people to compost, and help those doing so to compost more effectively. It planned to do this by selling subsidised compost bins and training 100 volunteers to become master composters, who would promote and support home composting. Master composters would be trained in topics such as how to compost, vermi-composting and teaching the public.
The project proposal included two Project Officers to deliver training and support to the volunteers and to oversee the day-to-day running of the project including development of the monitoring system.
The key elements of the project were:
- sale of compost bins and green cones; and
- training of volunteers to provide education and support in the use of composting equipment.
The key objectives
The project sought to raise awareness amongst the wider public of the benefits of composting, to encourage more people to home compost and help those already doing so to compost more effectively.
Project cost
The total projected cost of the project was £392,795 over a period of two years and two months. This sum included capital costs of £156,765 and revenue costs of £236,030. An additional £463,138 was identified an in-kind contribution (both in volunteer time and local authority premises and storage).
The funding package outlined in the application was:
Aberdeen Forward
(this sum includes £62,890 projected income from bin sales)
£82,890
Aberdeenshire Council
£19,905
Scottish Executive Sustainable Action Grant Fund
£55,000
TWS Grant Scheme
£235,000
Total
£392,795
The projected outputs
- Recruit and train 100 volunteers.
- Sell 7,000 compost units and 10,000 green cones at subsidised prices.
- Divert 4,618 tonnes of household waste.
Progress
The project operated in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray over two years. Project Officers attended 223 events and talks to promote composting. Compost bins and green cones were sold at events and civic amenity sites. 65 volunteers were recruited and trained to be master composters. The project has also worked with some schools to support their Eco-Schools programmes.
The project has developed a training package and a range of resources for volunteers to allow them to promote composting and support others to compost effectively. Training lasted four hours in total, delivered in two sessions of two hours each. The first session focused on the differences between the green cone and the compost unit and the second gave training on how to compost and how to overcome problems with composting.
The project was also successful in gathering monitoring information which is more robust than many composting programmes. A �ready reckoner� was developed to allow participants to estimate the weight of their waste. In total, 2.5% of purchasers returned some information allowing the Project Officers to develop informed estimates of the total weight diverted. These estimates were revised each time fresh information was provided. Over the life of the project, it was found that the average annual weight of waste going into a compost bin was 340 Kg and the green cone was 120 Kg. Based on this information, Aberdeen Forward estimates that the level of sustainable waste diversion from this project is 4,101 tonnes per annum.
Outputs
- 13,676 households bought subsidised composting units.
- 65 volunteers received training.
- 4,101 tonnes diverted per annum.
- 27 schools were visited.
- This project is frequently used by SEPA and CRNS as a �beacon� Master Composter Programme.
- Volunteers benefited in a number of intangible ways, including social contact, confidence building and informal learning opportunities (e.g. a visit made to a vermi-culture site).
Successes
- Credibility of the organisation
As a relatively new organisation, Aberdeen Forward found that the successful delivery of this project improved its standing with other partners.
- Relationship with local authorities
This was the first project operated by Aberdeen Forward in both Aberdeenshire and Moray. Aberdeen Forward has now established itself with all three councils as an effective partner in waste management delivery. Aberdeen Forward is working closely with Aberdeen City Council to deliver two additional projects, and Aberdeenshire Council has now contracted with the organisation to support a pilot of a new type of compost bin.
- Monitoring system
Master composter projects are extremely difficult to monitor effectively. This project has developed an effective system which returns enough information to provide robust monitoring information.
Challenges
- Unrealistic targets in the application
Aberdeen Forward worked closely with all three councils to develop the original application and to set the targets for the sale of compost bins. The targets proved to be unrealistic and as a result the project has not generated the anticipated level of income from the sale of compost bins and green cones. This has affected the financial package for the project.
Learning points
Well-researched and realistic targets are critical to successful project delivery.
Additionally, project staff found that green cones are a climate dependent method of composting, and could be unusable for up to five months of the year in the North East of Scotland. This factor had an impact on the take-up of green cones and the level of waste diverted.
Review
Future
Aberdeen Forward has worked closely with waste officers in all three councils to ensure continuation of the service.
In Aberdeenshire, the council has contracted with Aberdeen Forward to continue to deliver the project. In Moray and Aberdeen City Council areas, the councils will continue to provide a subsidised compost bin operation, but will not continue to support the Master Composter Programme.
The compost bins are guaranteed for ten years. In that respect the level of tonnage diverted by this project is sustainable (with a slow fall-off due to people losing interest) for at least ten years, with the expectation that once individuals are habituated to composting they are likely to continue.
Aberdeen Forward now has funding or contracts to deliver a number of programmes in the North East, including an allotments programme in Aberdeen City and a request from Aberdeenshire Council to manage a pilot of a new �Bocade� compost system � continuing Aberdeen Forward�s work in developing new ways of diverting waste.
Summary of impact
Weight of waste diverted
- 4,101 tonnes of waste per annum diverted.
Household involvement
- 13,676 households participated in composting.
- A number of schools took part in the programme, and 27 also had a visit from the Project Officer.
- Talks were given to meetings of a number of organisations, including gardeners� clubs and rotary clubs.
Social, economic or environmental benefits
- 65 volunteers received training in composting techniques.
- While employment progression was not a target, one student volunteer did move into work with a local authority in a waste management role.
Impact on the organisation
- Aberdeen Forward has developed its capacity to deliver and its credibility with local councils.
- Aberdeen Forward has now been contracted to continue to deliver this and other programmes in the North East of Scotland on a contracted basis.
- Relationship development has been one of the key impacts of TWS Grant Scheme funding on Aberdeen Forward.
- As a result of this project, Aberdeen Forward has developed its role as a delivery organisation and is aiming to be less grant dependent.
Impact on the community sector infrastructure
- This project has extended the community sector infrastructure. Aberdeenshire Council has contracted with Aberdeen Forward to continue to deliver the Master Composter Programme in Aberdeenshire.
- In Moray and Aberdeen City Council areas, composting bins will continue to be made available, but this service will be delivered by the councils. The councils will not continue to support the volunteer element of the service.
- The project has developed resources which could be used to support other composting projects.
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