The Compost Club

The Compost Club in a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing carbon output through composting and vermiculture. The organization works with and supports local schools to construct composting systems. In addition, the club serves as a center for education on environmental protection and action for the community. Composting is the process of diverting organic material (food scraps and yard waste) from landfills and reusing the rich soil produced after the natural biodegradation process to fertilize new plants and crops. By keeping organic material out of landfills, composting reduces climate-warming gases generated by organic materials in landfills. Yard and food waste make up 30% of the waste stream, therefore, composting kitchen and yard trimmings diverts a significant amount of waste from not only landfills, but also waterways and water treatment facilities.

The Compost Club began in 2002 by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who learned about the benefits of composting from Panamanian farmers. In addition to constructing compost systems, the club also builds and sells household “worm bin” units and “worm bin” education display kits. Worm bins are composting units that contain worms; worms increase the nutrient value of compost and this practice is referred to as vermiculture.

To promote social change and environmental responsibility, reduce carbon output and enable local schools and centers to develop and maintain effective composting and vermiculture systems.

The Compost Club has installed eight major composting projects at schools and summer camp retreat centers since 2002. The club estimates that, as of August 2010, its work has offset 12 tons of carbon (every 2 pounds of food scrap offset 1 pound of carbon from the atmosphere at the landfill). Participating schools and centers report that they divert between 20 and 150 pounds of food scraps per week. The Compost Club has been awarded several grants to support their work, including grants from the Rotary Club and support from the County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability Division.