Creating a Circular Economy Through Community Composting

Ballam Ballam Community Garden and Compost Hub is a place for members of the community to connect and develop business skills, investigate employment opportunities and expand their knowledge of gardening, composting, harvesting, planning and healthy cooking. People of all ages and different walks of life come together and learn from each other in an outdoor setting, walking away with an increased sense of mental and physical wellbeing.

At the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre (CNLC), we believe in the power of community to drive positive environmental change. Our Community Compost Hub is a testament to this belief, playing a pivotal role in reducing waste, promoting sustainability, and raising funds for those in need. 

A Solution for Food Waste in Carlton 

Established to tackle the significant issue of food waste, the CNLC Community Compost Hub provides a convenient and inclusive way for residents and local businesses in the inner North of Melbourne to prevent food scraps from going to landfill. Our mission is simple: turn waste into a valuable resource while fostering community spirit. 

At the Neighbourhood House Victoria Gala Dinner in May 2019, CNLC won first prize for the Carlton Community Garden Compost – this inaugural sector award recognises and celebrates the valuable work neighbourhood houses deliver for local communities.

Expansion and Community Engagement 

In 2023, thanks to a grant from Sustainability Victoria, we expanded our compost project and employed a compost officer for one day a week. The compost officer collects food waste from local cafes, restaurants, and pubs, including our dedicated partners like Fenton Farmhouse Café. Around 700 residents are also registered to drop off their food scraps at our bins, either inside the back gate during weekdays or in locked bins accessible 24/7 at the corner of Princes and Station Streets. 

Transforming Waste into Rich Compost 

We turn these food scraps into rich compost, ready to enrich local gardens. In 2023 alone, we prevented over 36,000 kg of waste from going to landfill. The compost we produce is sold back to the community for $5 per bucket, used in our own CNLC garden, and in the newly established Carlton Primary School garden. Fenton Café sources fresh produce from our garden, and we collect their food waste to bring back to CNLC for composting. It’s a circular economy model that showcases how local communities can work together to create positive environmental and social impacts. 

Promoting Sustainability and Social Impact 

Participants receive a fridge magnet as a handy guide to what can go in our compost hub and can also pick up a sticker from our front office to promote the hub on their kerbside rubbish bin. Proceeds from compost and vegetable seedling sales fund activities that directly support disadvantaged members of our community. 

“Participating in the compost hub has been incredibly rewarding. Not only are we reducing waste, but we’re also creating something beneficial for our community “It’s amazing to see the impact we can have when we come together.” 

– Jane, local Carlton resident.

Food scraps make up 40% of bin waste, and when they end up in landfill, they release harmful methane emissions. By composting, we prevent this waste from going to landfill while enriching the soil and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Our compost hub not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also provides funds that directly support activities for those in need. 

Join Us in Making a Difference 

Our compost hub thrives because of the dedicated residents and businesses who believe in reducing food waste and supporting their neighbours. If you’re a local, and passionate about composting and curious about community-driven solutions, we invite you to join our efforts at: https://cnlc.org.au/compost-hub/ Together, we can create a cleaner, greener, and more connected Carlton. 

If you aren’t in our neighbourhood, our Sustainable Victoria grant has now come to an end so we’re looking for tax-deductible donations to continue to our project of collection food waste from local business and community organisations. You can donate here: https://cnlc.org.au/donate/