Neighborhood composting gets more space in Antwerp: new neighborhood composting place opened behind ‘t Werkhuys (Antwerp)
The city and Stadsakker want to give neighborhood composting a boost by installing extra neighborhood compost spots. Neighborhood composting gives residents the opportunity to locally compost vegetable, fruit and garden waste. They can use that compost again in their garden, away from their house plants.
Meanwhile, Antwerp has about twenty neighborhood compost spots. The newest place was officially opened on Sunday afternoon in the Werktuigen garden behind ‘t Werkhuys in Borgerhout.
Stadsakker, an organization that has been committed to liveable greenery in Antwerp since 2013, is leading the project in the right direction. “With the support of the city of Antwerp and the Flemish government, we want to give neighborhood composting a boost in our city” for two years, says Aisha Abraham Stadsakker. “For example, we want to give individuals, organizations and companies the opportunity to compost their organic waste locally and to use the compost in their own garden or neighborhood to make the city greener.”
In the first instance, neighborhood composting has added value if organic waste is given a meaningful final destination. “And for residents who live in an apartment, it is also just convenient not to be left with a lot of organic waste in their home in the summer.” The initiative also brings people together. “About 20 families can dispose of their organic waste per place. Here in Borgerhout, the Werkhuys kitchen will also compost its waste.”
Three times a year, participants come together to turn the heap and harvest the compost. “These forces strengthen cohesion in the neighborhood and ensure good cooperation between neighbours,” says Alderman of Samenlevings Kar (Vooruit) who attended the opening.
Such a neighborhood compost spot also has a positive impact on the climate. Many small insects work in a compost heap to process the green waste. This creates more biodiversity in the city.
The opening of the neighborhood compost spot in Borgerhout focused on sustainability in ‘t Werkhuys for a whole day. For example, they gardened together in the communal garden of the works, the bread remains were recovered and ground into bread flour and broken electronics, bicycles and clothing were repaired in the Repair Café so that they do not end up at the origin of the goods.