Lanta Community Composting Project

Rubbish, garbage, waste or whatever you want to call it is a huge problem everywhere, and Koh Lanta is no exception. The overall objectives of Lanta Community Composting Project is to demonstrate the possibility of reducing organic waste going to landfill by composting both on-site and off-site. Given the small scale of this pilot project, while it will reduce organic waste and produce income, it is not expected to solve Koh Lanta’s waste problem at once. The intent is for the project to serve as a learning center, to inspire and empower individuals, business owners and community leaders to set up small scale composting stations throughout the island. The project will be set up, co-ordinated and overseen by a volunteer committee, committed to transparency and open books with the financial plans and collections for this project.

Lanta Community Composting Project will secure a reliable source of food and yard waste by Membership drop-off system. Training will be provided with regards to what can and cannot be composted. Local businesses and individuals who are interested are registered as members; they will need to put food waste into covered container provided by the project to be dropped off daily to the composting station. All new members should receive a basic orientation in how to compost, and the quantity of members should be regulated to ensure that the bins are neither significantly underused nor overused. The project will recruit local sea gypsy in Nai-Rai community, preferably elderly members to perform the day-to-day composting operations, maintenance and monitoring of the composting station.

A big thank you goes to Khun Teerapoch Kasirawat, Chairman of Lanta Tourist Association, who offered the use of his land at Boat Leaf Resort to start the project. The land measures approximately 1600 sqm of land, or one rai in Thai standards, and the pilot project has been given a 2 years lease  free of charge, with the possibility for longer period. Boat Leaf Resort is an ideal location for a small to medium scale off-site composting station being situated behind Saladan School, with the road leading to many restaurants and resorts in the area. The site would be a drop off location of organic waste from restaurants around the community and serve as a central station for composting. It is also at a central location to engage and educate students, local residents and businesses, and it is on the main road so it can be seen by all passers by who can then visit the station.

Koh Lanta will benefit in different ways: in the Short term, the development of a pilot project will demonstrate the possibility of individual home composting as well as small scale community composting stations; also, the project will raise local awareness of the value and opportunities of composting through education in schools and community outreach. In the Long term, the future chance to develop small composting stations throughout Koh Lanta in partnership with community leaders and business owners; the reduction of organic waste going to landfill; the usage of organic waste for growing local products; and the potential to create jobs and revenue for communities through sale of high quality compost.

If you have any question, wish to receive news and updates or you wish to donate to the project, you can contact them at https://www.facebook.com/cashtotrashlanta

Check out details on the method used at Lanta’s first Community Compost Station here: https://www.facebook.com/lantaoctoberfest2015/posts/1127425760652678

Composting without turning

Lot of questions were posted on their Facebook page about how the compost system works and what system they are using. Here is the breakdown on the compost without turning plans. The best part is: no smell and very little work! After studying a number of composting options that are available, ’Composting without Turning’ is the best method to use. An innovation in food waste and green waste composting method, developed by Maejo University in Chiang Mai, composting without turning allows for organic waste to be managed at individual household scale up to industrial scale with minimum labour and equipment. This method of composting have been widely used since 2009. Composting without turning is an Aerobic type of composting where a large amount of oxygen is needed and moisture is crucial to support the micro-organisms. The method is therefore suited to this pilot project for the following reasons:

– The compost rings/bins to contain the waste for composting are economical and readily available

– The compost rings/bins can be placed in the open and requires very little space

– Very low tech

– Low maintenance

– Can be adjusted to any scale of users; community, hotels, resorts, restaurant/bar, home

The rings/bins are set up to allow generous air flow and waste is layered lasagna style, alternating between kitchen wastes, green wastes( leaves, grass clipping) and animal manure. Once full, the rings/bins are left to stand for approximately 60 days during which time the rings are watered at intervals. In conversations with the head of Compost project at Birds & Bees resort and Maejo University, and testing the method at Costa Lanta, this system does not create nuisances to the surrounding community. When layered correctly, the compost rings/bins do not attract rodents, flies or other pests. Check out these photos of how Costa Lanta Resort, Ko Lanta, Thailand has already implemented the system.

This year Lanta October Fun Fair, set on Sunday the 9th October 2016, will raise money for Lanta Community Composting Project. Follow them on fb  https://www.facebook.com/lantaoctoberfest2015/ and check their article HERE !