Composting

General information 

• Title of the good practice (main title and subtitle, if applicable): Composting
  • Name of the implementing organization/community: FLOW- Er . Environmental Association
    • Organization address: Karađorđeva 39, Senta 24400
    • Contact information (email, phone number): flow.er.infoo@gmail.com, +381 621686424
    • Project and/or organization website: https://flowerorg.com/about/
    • Social media contact:

https://www.facebook.com/Flower.association , https://www.instagram.com/flower.association/

• Contact details – contact person( s ), project manager, coordinator :

Beata Kalman, +381 649280942

Presentation of good practice

The target group is young people (aged 13–25), especially those who are open to environmental protection, interested in sustainability and eager to learn about recycling natural resources . School groups, youth communities who can learn about composting outside of school hours, through project or club activities. Civil society organizations and community gardens who want to set an example of sustainable operation and are looking for good models for community actions. Environmentally conscious households who want to reduce their household organic waste and feed their plants naturally.

The implementation takes place in an urban environment. The good practice of composting was created to provide an answer to the environmentally conscious management of the large amounts of organic waste generated in everyday life. Our goal is to introduce young people and communities to the process of the natural cycle and to point out that food scraps and kitchen green waste can be seen not as garbage, but as a valuable resource. With the help of the good practice, participants will experience how to use simple tools to produce nutrient-rich compost juice and soil strengthening material from organic waste, which can be used to nourish plants in a natural way. This not only reduces the amount of household waste, but also increases environmental responsibility – which in the long term contributes to a greener, more sustainable future.

Good composting practices are organically integrated into the daily operations of the Flow-ER Association and consist of the following specific activities:

Compost collection and management: Participants regularly collect organic waste (vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc.) and place it in the composting container. After each new batch, they press down the layers to promote decomposition.

Using compost activating powder: After each batch of organic matter, a composting promoting powder is sprinkled onto the layer. This powder is usually a mixture containing EM (Effective Microorganisms) or a powder containing composting bacteria, which accelerates the decomposition processes. Draining and using compost juice: The dark, concentrated compost juice that forms at the bottom of the container is drained periodically. This solution is extremely strong, so it is diluted with water (about 1:10) and used, for example, for watering flowers and garden plants.

Awareness and Involvement: Program participants – mainly young people – learn the basics of composting and can apply the method in their own households. The association also holds workshops and demonstrations where they practice the steps of composting together.

Good composting practice focuses on practical, experiential learning. The essence of the method is that participants learn the steps of composting through their own experience, while actively participating in the process – not just as observers, but as doers. The transfer of knowledge does not take place within traditional classroom settings, but rather through playful, collaborative tasks and experimentation. This promotes deeper understanding and a long-term change in perspective. The method used is based on the cycle of natural materials, i.e. it transforms the resulting organic waste into useful material, which is then returned to nature, thus forming a closed system.

The Flow-ER Association has its own yard and composting facility, making it an ideal location for activities. The community space is easily accessible and offers the opportunity to hold open, outdoor sessions.

A key element of the program is the composting tank, which allows the processing of organic waste. The related auxiliary equipment – such as the compost powder dispenser and containers for collecting drained liquid – is already available. The Flow-ER Association already has experience in organizing environmental and green awareness programs. Building on this experience, composting naturally fits into the association’s environmental education activities.

The program is open to cooperation with schools, kindergartens, other NGOs or even local government actors. These connections allow the program to reach a wider audience and to expand the awareness-raising to other age groups. Young people are increasingly open to sustainability issues, so there is a growing social demand for composting as a “green solution”. The program capitalizes on this interest and encourages active participation.

In everyday life, a huge amount of organic waste is generated, which most often ends up in landfills, even though it could be recycled. The answer to this problem is the practice of composting, which allows these natural materials to be transformed into useful, nutrient-rich compost. Many school environmental programs remain at a theoretical level. However, this good practice provides practical knowledge in the hands of participants and helps to turn theory into real action.

Composting, as a good practice, fulfilled its intended goals and proved to be successful in several ways: It strengthened environmental awareness. The young people who joined the program learned how to usefully recycle organic waste back into nature, thus reducing their ecological footprint. The participants mastered the basics of composting: selection, compost material management, monitoring the composting process, and the use of compost juice. The composting activity takes place regularly in the Flow-ER yard, not occasionally, and is therefore sustainable in the long term.

The success of the program was contributed by social media (Facebook, Instagram): regular posts with pictures and short descriptions about the composting process. Before and after photos, videos of the composting tank, the use of the compost juice, watering and planting flowers.

Good practice builds on further opportunities, exploring and introducing young people to an area that is important but not yet available for sufficient time. For example, introducing a game show that is already well-known and popular abroad.

It is essential that students who are slowly entering adulthood are able to effectively express their opinions on any issue, which unfortunately often does not have the opportunity to practice within the school framework. Although the introduction and development of the culture of debate was included in the curriculum in 2013, due to the increased curriculum and expectations, teachers admit that they do not have time to try out the various methodological tasks in practice, so it is just one theoretical material among many. However, in today’s world, this would be an essential skill for students to successfully participate in the labor market.

The good practice achieved its goal, as the traveling cup will continue to revive the competition among local schools in the coming years, popularizing the topic and method.

Adaptability

It is easy to adapt, as you need a well-functioning, closed-system container that allows for rapid decomposition of organic waste. Composting powder, such as compost activator (a mixture containing bacteria and enzymes), which speeds up the decomposition process. Participants should be aware of what can and cannot be composted. It is important that young people understand why composting is good and how it reduces the amount of waste. Composting is effective when it is not an occasional activity, but a regular one. It is important to monitor the condition of the compost and the use of compost juice.

Compost juice is useful because it is rich in nutrients, but it is not essential to the success of the practice. If you do not have the opportunity to use it, composting can still work. The success of the composting process depends largely on regular maintenance. Periodic inspection of the composting bins, adding the correct amount of organic matter, and maintaining optimal moisture levels are all essential. For young people, the program will be truly successful if it is built on experiential learning. They are not attracted to boring, theoretical education, but practical, creative tasks and challenges help them develop a love for environmental awareness.

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