#ICAW #Community #Composting #RegeneratingSoil

Community composting is thriving across Australia, and we’re bringing people together for a special online convergence to connect, learn, and celebrate local composting!

On Sunday, May 10 LOCCAL (the LOcal Community Compost ALliance Australia) will host an online gathering bringing together composters from across the country as we close out International Compost Awareness Week 2026. Composters at any level and compost enablers are all welcome to be inspired, ask questions, and engage with like-minded people who are passionate about keeping resources local.

What is International Compost Awareness Week?

Every year in the first full week of May, people around the world come together to celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) – a global campaign to highlight the benefits of composting and its vital role in building healthy soils, supporting climate action, and creating more regenerative communities.

ICAW was first launched in Canada in 1995 and has since grown into the largest and most comprehensive education initiative around composting worldwide. During the week, communities host activities, events, talks, tours and educational campaigns that shine a spotlight on the power of compost to return nutrients to the soil, reduce landfill waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions and support community connections.

This year’s theme, “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us,” highlights the vital role compost plays in sustaining life on land. Each year, the International Compost Awareness Week Committee holds a poster contest to select a design for the annual poster. According to the Compost Foundation’s website, Endurance Oye of Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria was the 2026 ICAW Poster Contest winner. Endurance’s poster was selected from hundreds of entries submitted by artists around the world and stood out for its depth, storytelling, and powerful connection to this year’s theme.

What to expect at the convergence

Our Community Composters Convergence will bring together the diverse voices and practices that make up Australia’s community composting movement. The evening will feature:

Guest Speaker: Michael Kennard from the UK

We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Kennard, founder of Compost Club in East Sussex, UK, as our international guest speaker. Michael is a Soil Association ambassador, consultant, and educator who works with communities to tackle food waste from collection to compost to distribution – all without the use of fossil fuels or mains water. He collects around 80,000 litres of food waste per year, saving approximately 37 tonnes of CO2e emissions.

Through his consultancy, Regenerative Soils, Michael works with farmers, land managers, and organisations to build healthy, resilient soils using ecological principles and practical, science-based methods – alongside designing efficient site-specific composting systems that close nutrient loops and boost microbial life. His hands-on experience and clear, engaging teaching style make him a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator across the UK. We’re excited to hear his insights and learn from his innovative approaches to community-scale composting.

What else is happening?

• A snapshot of community-led composting across Australia – discover the diverse ways communities are composting from urban hubs to rural networks
• LOCCAL updates – a brief rundown of what LOCCAL has been up to and our plans for supporting the community composting movement
• Networking opportunities to connect with composters across Australia and build relationships with others doing similar work in different contexts
• Opportunities to get involved in LOCCAL and contribute to growing the community composting sector
• Celebratory fun as we recognise and honour the work being done in communities nation-(and world)wide

Who should join in the fun?

LOCCAL’s mission is “Supporting and growing community composters, so the compost we generate stays local and enriches us as a community.” We welcome anyone involved in community composting in any capacity:

• Community compost hub coordinators and volunteers
• Backyard composters sharing with neighbours
• Educators and workshop facilitators
• Social enterprises and community organisations
• Government staff supporting community initiatives
• Anyone curious about community composting and wanting to learn more

Be part of the movement

Community composting is more than waste diversion – it’s about building connections, regenerating soil, and creating resilient local food systems. It’s neighbours coming together to transform organic matter into nourishment for community gardens, street trees, and local green spaces. It’s people learning together, experimenting, and finding joy in the process of giving back to the earth.

The Convergence is a chance to celebrate this work, learn from each other, and strengthen the networks that support community composting across Australia. We hope you’ll join us!

Details

When: Sunday, May 10, 2026

What time:

• 7:00 PM AEST (QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
• 6:30 PM ACST (NT, SA)
• 5:00 PM AWST (WA)

Where: Online via Google Meet (link will be sent on registration)

See you there!