Household Waste Composting

I attended the 2nd review meeting on the Community Household Composting Project at CETDEM Organic Centre last Saturday. The function started with get to together session with all participants and followed by a "refreshing" pot luck lunch. I called it refreshing as vegetable foods with many innovations were served, and importantly the taste was delicious. We have organic drink made up of different nuts and beans.

What inspired me the most is participants of this project are so enthusiastic after 9 months even though many of them have encountered countless problems. They have to go through the attacks by insects, flies, rat and even the complaints lodged by the neighbours. This must be one of the proud moments for project proponents as 50 participants are still remain on board, the targeted figure.

I believe this group of participants, with their passion and know how have the potential to become the trainers. I have in my opening remark urged them to influence their immediate friends, family members and work mates to follow their foot step. The multiplying effect will hopefully help us to reduce waste at source, at the same time to convert waste into useful stuff for our garden.

If most of them have desire to continue, perhaps MBPJ can look into having community composting project. They can become the leader and facilitator for this to realise. We will definitely look into this prospect.

I believe while solving waste at source is important, getting the participation of community is the most critical action. A solution for solid waste management without stakeholders involvement and active support will not help to sustain the solution. Hence, involving the community from planning through implementation and monitoring is a must, for success.