From the 4th to 10th of May this year it is officially International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), and this year’s theme is “Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost” – which is exactly what LOCCAL is all about!

People all around the world are celebrating composting in all it’s forms and sharing their knowledge and experience with others. On Saturday 3 May we kicked off ICAW in Australia with an online gathering, showcasing community composting initiatives and promoting new activities to support our community.

Watch the recording here:

Throughout the rest of the week, compost hubs and community gardens everywhere will be hosting events and activities to build knowledge and participation in composting. We have put together a list of online and in-person events around Australia for you to browse here: www.loccal.org/events

Introducing the Peels.app

With the demise of ShareWaste last year, local composters lost a valuable resource to connect their communities and help more people use their food scraps sustainably. Thankfully, Peels has now jumped into that space and provides a global map of composting providers, offering anyone the ability to find their nearest composting neighbour and build connections in their own neighbourhood.

You don’t even need to sign up to view the map. Go to www.peels.app to browse for composters and log in if you find someone you would like to get in touch with! Peels is free to use, entirely volunteer run, and launched in Australia (but available worldwide) at the start of the year.

It’s Time to #SayNoToFruitStickers

If you care about making good quality compost and improving the the health of our soil, plastic contaminants can be the bane of your existence. One of the most common and nastiest to try and remove are fruit stickers. They are everywhere and are filling up our soil. Worst of all, they break down steadily, introducing toxins that affect microbial life, plant life, and are ultimately taken up into human body through our food systems.

Alongside other composting and growing organisations, LOCCAL is launching a campaign to raise awareness and push for change. If industrial food systems are going to use labelling and packaging that leave wastes and residues in our environment, it is critical that they ensure those products are safe for the planet.

We encourage everyone to share your experiences on social media regarding fruit stickers getting into compost. Use the hashtag #SayNoToFruitStickers, and tag in @LOCCAL. We can share and amplify your message, and together, make sure this issue gets the attention it needs.

Recapping last Month

Last month we looked a developments in local composting in Western Australia, with two community projects that have been launched recently, and highlighted the changes coming up in the world of composting standards.

This month, look forward to more stories around international composting efforts and the unique approaches local composters are developing across Australia, Asia and around the world.

If you aren’t yet a member, please join LOCCAL (it’s free) to learn, share, and add your voice. Get involved, and let us know what we can do to support you.

Have a great ICAW 2025, and HAPPY COMPOSTING!