It’s intended to help communities put materials that would otherwise go to landfill to good use – providing an alternative that’s better for the environment and generates a valuable resource for local growing projects. 

The initiative is a partnership between Zero Waste Scotland, the Highland Council and Highland Good Food Partnership. 

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, explained:  

“Composting is a fantastic way for individuals and communities to make things last – realising the value of materials that would otherwise be wasted before the end of their usable life while helping to improve soil health at the same time. 

“Food waste in particular is a big hitter in terms of environmental impact, making up 18 per cent of household waste by weight but accounting for 30 per cent of the carbon impacts. That means keeping materials like this in high-value use for longer can really cut our carbon footprint and ultimately reduce our contribution to climate change.” 

When food and garden waste break down in landfill they produce methane – a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Community composting projects have real potential to limit that by diverting those materials from landfill and putting them to good use.

The Highland Community Composting Resource includes guidance on every aspect of community composting, from what can be composted to methods, benefits, and costs. It also features best-practice case studies of community composting projects from elsewhere in Scotland and the rest of the UK. 

Katie Andrews, Climate Change Coordinator at the Highland Council said:  

“This is a fantastic resource and will be a valuable asset to help Highland communities take positive steps to reduce the waste we send to landfill.