Case Studies
Comparing and learning from other communities
A range of case studies, including projects from across Scotland, the rest of the UK and overseas are shown below. These case studies demonstrate successful approaches from operational and technical perspectives and are provided to compare and learn from. Website details for the organisations involved are shown in the download documents if you would like more information.
This also includes information on existing community composting projects in Aberdeenshire.
Many community composting projects are linked to community gardens or allotments which may also have a community food growing initiative. Aberdeenshire Council has made funds available to help support local projects tackling food security in Aberdeenshire communities which includes community food growing. If you would be interested in finding out more about this funding opportunity please visit Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Food Fund web page (Community Food Fund – Aberdeenshire Council).
Aberdeenshire community composting projects are described briefly below.
Tarland Community Composting Project
Run entirely by volunteers, Tarland Community Composting project is a not for profit community enterprise which provides a service to the Tarland community for the collection and composting of garden waste. The scheme, which was established in 2010, operates a fortnightly kerbside bag collection service, from April to mid-November, using large garden waste bags provided to members for an annual fee. The project is supported by the local estate, the MacRobert Trust, who provided the site for the project. The garden waste is composted using windrows with the material being turned fortnightly during the composting period. The compost material is then bagged for use by local residents. Further details of the project can be found at:
Johnshaven Composting Project
The community composting scheme in Johnshaven is run by volunteers, providing a fortnightly collection of garden waste for village residents from April to November. The scheme operates using garden waste bags which are provided to members for an annual membership fee. The compost produced is made available to local residents. For further information please visit:
Bute Produce is run by the charity Fyne Futures (a subsidiary of the housing association, Fyne Homes), on a leased 6-acre site. In late 2020 ownership was transferred to Fyne Futures. The objective is to grow local seasonal produce that is affordable to the local community and to respond to an emerging trend for food with a low carbon footprint. The community composting work is part of the supply chain of Bute Produce. This is an illustration of a community composting project that sits within a much larger endeavour, with community food growing, skills development, job provision, and low carbon supply chain development. Operates under a Paragraph 12 exemption (no cost). Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
Tiphereth Compost & Firewood is a social enterprise arm of the charity which manage the community composting scheme. They have a contract with Edinburgh Council to collect garden waste from 500 households in the local area and receive a grant from them for doing this.
Working with the council, the partnership supports 40 community compost schemes with over 1,300 households (an average of just over 30 households per project) taking part. The scheme was established to provide a food waste composting solution for residents without gardens. Compost produced is being used in parks, community gardens and food growing projects in local schools. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
This is a charity with two paid staff members co-ordinating 16 sites, with an average of 40 to 50 householders per site signed up to the project. The sites are described as being cheap to set up, with each managing around 3 tonnes of compost at any one time. The resulting compost can be used free of charge by participating households and if there is any excess it is advertised to local allotments. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
Using a Ridan composter, with 36 households as members of the compost club. Food waste is brought to the site and mixed with wood chip for composting in the unit which does not use any electricity. The land for the allotment and composting is provided by the council, with 12 Ridan Raiders, who have received training, allowed to use the unit. They carry out daily checks of the feedstock mixture, moisture level and temperature. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
Using a Ridan composter, in an eco-cohousing community with 41 homes, 65 adults and 15 children. Private homes with shared facilities. The community is a limited company. There is a rota for seven community members to collect food waste caddies and to feed the composter, make checks and turn it. There are five large caddies used for the food waste deposited, with two emptied approximately twice a week to trickle feed the composter. Community growing space is given priority for the compost produced. Additional material is made openly available to the community after this.
Members bring their garden waste and veggie/fruit peelings to the composting site. Volunteers manage it, with help from paid local labour. Once composted, the product is offered back to members and allotment holders, for use in their gardens and allotments. It serves a population of 1,000 people, with 160 households taking part – reported to be very popular and sociable. 3 volunteers started the scheme, 2 remain and new directors are taken on as needed.
Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
A Rocket composter is used for all of the food waste generated by the hotel. This cost £25,000 to install and now results in the hotel not needing to purchase as much compost for use on the grounds. It is managed and maintained by the estate team working with the head chef and there is spare capacity for the community to get involved in the future. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
The project kicked off in January 2022 and is a low-cost scheme driven by the local authority and supported by a community group. It will be open to a maximum of circa 80 householders and therefore of a scale that may be achievable within Aberdeenshire. Participating householders (members) are able to drop-off their vegetable peelings and garden waste into the locked drop-off containers.
Aberdeenshire community composting projects are described briefly below.
Tarland Community Composting Project
Run entirely by volunteers, Tarland Community Composting project is a not for profit community enterprise which provides a service to the Tarland community for the collection and composting of garden waste. The scheme, which was established in 2010, operates a fortnightly kerbside bag collection service, from April to mid-November, using large garden waste bags provided to members for an annual fee. The project is supported by the local estate, the MacRobert Trust, who provided the site for the project. The garden waste is composted using windrows with the material being turned fortnightly during the composting period. The compost material is then bagged for use by local residents. Further details of the project can be found at:
Johnshaven Composting Project
The community composting scheme in Johnshaven is run by volunteers, providing a fortnightly collection of garden waste for village residents from April to November. The scheme operates using garden waste bags which are provided to members for an annual membership fee. The compost produced is made available to local residents. For further information please visit:
shark-johnshaven.chessck.co.uk
Bute Produce is run by the charity Fyne Futures (a subsidiary of the housing association, Fyne Homes), on a leased 6-acre site. In late 2020 ownership was transferred to Fyne Futures. The objective is to grow local seasonal produce that is affordable to the local community and to respond to an emerging trend for food with a low carbon footprint. The community composting work is part of the supply chain of Bute Produce. This is an illustration of a community composting project that sits within a much larger endeavour, with community food growing, skills development, job provision, and low carbon supply chain development. Operates under a Paragraph 12 exemption (no cost). Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
Tiphereth Compost & Firewood is a social enterprise arm of the charity which manage the community composting scheme. They have a contract with Edinburgh Council to collect garden waste from 500 households in the local area and receive a grant from them for doing this.
\Working with the council, the partnership supports 40 community compost schemes with over 1,300 households (an average of just over 30 households per project) taking part. The scheme was established to provide a food waste composting solution for residents without gardens. Compost produced is being used in parks, community gardens and food growing projects in local schools. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
This is a charity with two paid staff members co-ordinating 16 sites, with an average of 40 to 50 householders per site signed up to the project. The sites are described as being cheap to set up, with each managing around 3 tonnes of compost at any one time. The resulting compost can be used free of charge by participating households and if there is any excess it is advertised to local allotments. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
Using a Ridan composter, with 36 households as members of the compost club. Food waste is brought to the site and mixed with wood chip for composting in the unit which does not use any electricity. The land for the allotment and composting is provided by the council, with 12 Ridan Raiders, who have received training, allowed to use the unit. They carry out daily checks of the feedstock mixture, moisture level and temperature. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
Members bring their garden waste and veggie/fruit peelings to the composting site. Volunteers manage it, with help from paid local labour. Once composted, the product is offered back to members and allotment holders, for use in their gardens and allotments. It serves a population of 1,000 people, with 160 households taking part – reported to be very popular and sociable. 3 volunteers started the scheme, 2 remain and new directors are taken on as needed.
Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
A Rocket composter is used for all of the food waste generated by the hotel. This cost £25,000 to install and now results in the hotel not needing to purchase as much compost for use on the grounds. It is managed and maintained by the estate team working with the head chef and there is spare capacity for the community to get involved in the future. Click for a one-page pdf giving more details on this project.
The project kicked off in January 2022 and is a low-cost scheme driven by the local authority and supported by a community group. It will be open to a maximum of circa 80 householders and therefore of a scale that may be achievable within Aberdeenshire. Participating householders (members) are able to drop-off their vegetable peelings and garden waste into the locked drop-off containers.
The document for download below, "Growing Local Fertility - A Guide to Community Composting" provides examples of many different types of community composting projects in the USA which could be a source of inspiration and learning.