Transforming organic waste into valuable resources while educating communities about sustainable waste management and soil health. Our composting initiatives create circular systems that benefit both people and the environment.
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At Dilulu, we believe that composting is both a practical solution to waste management challenges and a powerful educational tool that connects people to natural cycles. Our approach combines traditional African composting knowledge with modern techniques to create systems that are effective, accessible, and culturally appropriate.
We work with communities, schools, and organizations to develop composting systems that address local needs while building skills and understanding. Each composting project is designed through a collaborative process that respects local conditions, available materials, and community priorities.
Our composting initiatives serve multiple purposes: reducing waste sent to landfills, creating valuable soil amendments for gardens, demonstrating natural cycles, and providing hands-on learning opportunities. We emphasize the connection between composting, food production, and environmental health to create holistic understanding of sustainable systems.
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Composting provides numerous benefits that extend beyond waste reduction, supporting environmental health, community resilience, and sustainable agriculture.
Composting diverts organic materials from landfills, reducing methane emissions and extending landfill lifespans. In many African communities, organic waste can constitute 50-80% of the waste stream, making composting a high-impact waste management strategy.
Compost improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient content, addressing soil degradation issues common in many African regions. By enhancing soil health, compost helps create more resilient agricultural systems that can withstand climate challenges.
By improving soil fertility, composting supports increased agricultural productivity and food security. Compost can reduce or eliminate the need for expensive chemical fertilizers, making sustainable farming more accessible to resource-limited communities.
Compost-amended soils sequester carbon and are more resilient to drought and flooding, helping communities adapt to climate change impacts. The improved water retention of compost-rich soils is particularly valuable in regions experiencing increasing water stress.
Composting creates opportunities for green jobs, entrepreneurship, and cost savings. Community-based composting initiatives can generate income through compost sales, waste collection services, and training programs while reducing expenses for waste disposal and agricultural inputs.
Composting provides tangible demonstrations of natural cycles, decomposition, and ecosystem services. As an educational tool, composting builds environmental literacy and connects people to natural processes in ways that are visible, hands-on, and meaningful.
We promote a variety of composting methods that can be adapted to different contexts, needs, and available resources.
Simple pile or pit composting methods that build on traditional African agricultural practices. These approaches require minimal infrastructure and can be implemented with locally available materials, making them accessible to communities with limited resources. We document and honor traditional composting knowledge while integrating improvements that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Contained composting systems using bins made from local materials like bamboo, recycled pallets, or repurposed containers. Bin systems are ideal for urban and peri-urban settings where space is limited and aesthetics are important. These systems can be designed to prevent pest access and control odors, making them suitable for household and institutional settings.
Worm-based composting systems that produce high-quality compost and liquid fertilizer. Vermicomposting is particularly effective for food scraps and works well in small spaces, making it suitable for urban households, schools, and small businesses. These systems can be designed at various scales, from small household bins to larger commercial operations.
Fermentation-based method that can process a wide range of food waste, including meat and dairy. Bokashi is an anaerobic process that works well in sealed containers, making it suitable for indoor use and urban settings. This method produces both a soil amendment and a liquid fertilizer, maximizing resource recovery from organic waste.
Larger-scale systems managed collectively by community groups, schools, or organizations. Community composting creates opportunities for shared responsibility, knowledge exchange, and equitable access to compost resources. These systems can process larger volumes of organic waste and serve multiple households or community gardens.
Methods for creating liquid fertilizers by steeping finished compost in water. Compost tea extends the benefits of compost and can be applied as a foliar spray or soil drench. This approach is particularly valuable in water-limited contexts and for treating plant diseases, as it provides both nutrients and beneficial microorganisms.
We follow a collaborative, community-centered approach to developing successful and sustainable composting initiatives.
We begin by engaging with community members to understand their needs, interests, and existing waste management practices. Through participatory workshops, surveys, and waste audits, we identify priorities, assess available resources, and build relationships with key stakeholders who will champion the composting initiative.
Working with community partners, we design composting systems that address local needs and conditions. This includes selecting appropriate composting methods, determining system scale, identifying collection mechanisms, and planning for compost utilization. The design process considers factors such as available space, climate, types of organic waste, and community capacity.
We provide comprehensive training on composting techniques, system management, troubleshooting, and compost utilization. Training programs are designed to be accessible and engaging, using hands-on activities, visual guides, and peer learning approaches. We emphasize building local expertise to ensure long-term sustainability.
We support the construction and setup of composting systems, ensuring proper installation and initial operation. This phase emphasizes community participation and skill-building, with our staff providing technical guidance. Materials are sourced locally whenever possible, and systems are designed to be maintained with locally available tools and resources.
We provide ongoing technical support and monitoring to ensure composting systems function effectively and address any challenges that arise. Regular check-ins, troubleshooting assistance, and refresher trainings help maintain system functionality and community engagement. We collect data on waste diversion, compost production, and system performance to track impact.
We provide guidance on using finished compost effectively in gardens, farms, and landscapes. This includes training on application methods, appropriate use rates, and integrating compost into broader soil management practices. Demonstration gardens and field trials help showcase the benefits of compost and build confidence in its use.
We help communities establish management systems, maintenance schedules, and funding strategies to ensure long-term sustainability. This includes developing partnerships with local organizations, identifying income generation opportunities, and creating systems for ongoing community involvement and leadership in composting initiatives.
Our composting programs have transformed waste management practices and improved soil health across Africa. Here are some inspiring examples of what communities have achieved.
A network of five schools in Accra implemented composting systems that process cafeteria waste and yard trimmings, diverting over 15 tons of organic material from landfills annually while producing compost for school gardens that supply fresh produce for school meals.
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A women-led cooperative established a composting facility that processes organic waste from three local markets, creating employment for 25 community members and producing high-quality compost that is sold to urban farmers and gardeners throughout Kampala.
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A network of 12 neighborhood composting hubs across Dakar that collect household food waste and process it into compost for community gardens. The network has diverted over 500 tons of organic waste from landfills and supports 20 community gardens that improve food access in urban neighborhoods.
Read Full StoryWe provide a variety of resources to help communities develop and maintain successful composting systems.
A comprehensive guide to different composting methods suitable for African contexts, with step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips.
Our online course covering all aspects of composting, from basic principles to advanced techniques and system management.
Information about our hands-on workshops that provide practical training in composting techniques for communities, schools, and organizations.
Downloadable fact sheets on specific composting topics, including troubleshooting common problems and using compost in gardens and farms.
Find answers to common questions about composting and our composting programs.
Most plant-based materials can be composted, including fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, yard trimmings, leaves, small branches, and paper products (without glossy coatings or colored inks). In traditional composting systems, it's best to avoid meat, dairy, oils, and cooked foods, as these can attract pests and create odors. However, specialized methods like bokashi fermentation can process these materials. Local materials like rice husks, coconut coir, and sugarcane bagasse can also be valuable composting ingredients in many African contexts.
Composting time varies depending on the method, materials, climate, and management practices. In tropical African climates, traditional composting can produce finished compost in 2-4 months with proper management. Vermicomposting typically takes 2-3 months, while bokashi fermentation takes just 2-4 weeks for the initial fermentation stage (though the fermented material still needs to be incorporated into soil or a traditional compost pile to complete the process). Regular turning, appropriate moisture levels, and proper particle size can significantly speed up the composting process.
To start a composting program with Dilulu, begin by contacting us through our website or email at composting@dilulu.org. We'll schedule an initial consultation to discuss your community's needs, interests, and current waste management practices. If there's a good fit, we'll guide you through our collaborative implementation process, which includes community assessment, system design, training, and ongoing support. We prioritize communities with demonstrated interest, identified champions, and commitment to maintaining the composting system over time.
Proper management is key to preventing odors and pests in composting systems. This includes maintaining the right balance of carbon-rich "brown" materials (like dry leaves, straw, or paper) and nitrogen-rich "green" materials (like food scraps and fresh plant matter), ensuring adequate aeration through regular turning or proper system design, and maintaining appropriate moisture levels (damp like a wrung-out sponge, not soggy). Covering food scraps with brown materials, avoiding meat and dairy in traditional systems, and using enclosed bins or bokashi methods in urban areas can also help prevent pest issues.
Dilulu provides comprehensive support throughout the composting program development process, including technical assistance with system design, training workshops for community members, educational materials in local languages, ongoing mentorship and troubleshooting support, and guidance on compost utilization. We can also provide starter materials such as tools, bins, or worms for vermicomposting. For qualifying communities, we offer financial support through our grant program to help with initial infrastructure costs. Our goal is to build local capacity for long-term program sustainability.
Finished compost has several characteristic features: it's dark brown to black in color, has a pleasant earthy smell (not sour or ammonia-like), has a crumbly texture similar to rich soil, and has cooled to ambient temperature. The original materials should no longer be recognizable, except for some woody pieces that may take longer to break down. A simple test is to place some compost in a sealed plastic bag for a few days - if it develops strong odors when opened, it needs more time to mature. Finished compost can be sifted to remove any remaining large pieces, which can be returned to a new compost pile to continue breaking down.
Whether you want to start composting at home, implement a community program, or learn more about our work, we'd love to hear from you.
