Apr 15, 2026

compost, ICAW, International Compost Alliance

From  the 3rd to 9th of May, we invite you to join us in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) 2026! Each year, ICAW serves to help spread the word about the transformative power of Compost – from reducing waste, recycling organic material nutrients to boost depleted soils, and giving us an opportunity to reconnect with nature in our everyday lives.

This year’s theme, “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us,” highlights the vital role compost plays in sustaining life on land and its enormous capacity to support sustainable food production.

Read more about what we’re doing to celebrate ICAW below and let us know your plans for ICAW 2026!

 

Celebrating REA Compost Champions! 🏆♻️🌿

In celebration of International Compost Awareness Week we’re profiling some outstanding Compost Champions…

  • Allium Organics specialises in transforming complex organic waste streams into low carbon resources. In simple terms, they take challenging organic wastes and convert them into compliant and non-compliant composts.When Allium was founded eight years ago, their mission was clear: to produce low carbon, nutrient rich compost to benefit agricultural land and their own land restoration schemes. In 2025, after three years of extensive work on a truly ground-breaking project, they achieved consent for their non-certified compost generated from sludges, MSW fines, CLO and grits, to be used on agricultural land.This low carbon, nutrient certified compost is proving to be an effective soil conditioner and fertiliser. Allium is now actively deploying this compost across their growing landbank, with strong uptake and positive feedback from agricultural users. Led by Ged Denny, the team is championing a genuine first for the UK organics industry. Taking wastes that otherwise would go to landfill and turning them into valuable low carbon fertilisers for agriculture.
  • Mary Dimambro of Cambridge Eco Ltd is facilitating an ADOPT project on willow composting to empower English farmers to produce peat-free composts for horticulture. The project will trial composting short rotation coppice (SRC) willow, already grown on 3,800ha in England, with nitrogen-rich materials such as herbal leys and digestate fibre, to create high-quality peat-free compost. By enabling farmers to produce compost locally, the project aims to reduce reliance on imports, cut carbon emissions, and create new income streams through agroforestry diversification.The farmers are J&E Grahan in Essex/ Hertfordshire and Rickerby Estates Ltd in Cumbria, both experienced in growing willow are participating in this 17 month trial which includes a cost benefit analysis and will produce practical guidance for farmers.Another great example of a compost champion – switching from peat to willow compost can cut growing media carbon footprint by up to 90% and the willow sequesters carbon and improves soil health.See more info here.
  • The Woodhorn Group – the team have made a short film of their work to divert garden waste, produce high-quality compost and help in the circular bioeconomy, to help publicise and support International Compost Awareness Week! Watch the video here.

  • The Green Estate CIC is an award-winning Community Interest Company based in Sheffield, specialising in nature-based solutions. Working in partnership with local landscapers, Universities and Sheffield City Council they collect green waste and process it into high-quality, @REAL BSI PAS100 certified soil improver. This compost is then returned to the landscape sector and used within their own Pictorial Meadows® Turf and Grey to Green SuDS Substrate® systems.

    Their approach keeps resources local, reduces waste and transport impacts, improves soil health, and supports SuDS delivery to help manage surface water and reduce flood risk, creating greener, more resilient urban environments.

    As a Community Interest Company (CIC), all profits are reinvested into people, local community activities, and the development of sustainable green spaces. True compost champions!

Championing ICAW with the International Composting Alliance

We’re proud to celebrate the many benefits of composting here in the UK and across the world as part of the International Compost Alliance (ICA) – a coalition of composting associations from around the world.

The REA and other member organisations of the ICA joined forces to issue Global Call to Action for Compost Awareness Week 2026 and collate global composting resources. Read the press release here find the resources page here.

ECN has also recently published two new fact sheets:

  1. Compost and Soil Health Improvement.
    This factsheet compiles evidence from long-term field trials to show how repeated quality-assured compost applications from abundant green- and bio-waste materials support sustained soil health and farm productivity. Bringing the evidence together shows that the long-term use of compost builds soil structure and carbon content, improves water retention, increases biodiversity, enhances nutrient supply, preserves soil quality, and stabilises yields, which together strengthen farm resilience and soil health over time.
  2. Agronomic and Economic Relevance of Compost
    This factsheet integrates the soil health outcomes shown in factsheet 1 while focusing on how they may support specific agronomic and economic implications arising from the long-term integration of compost into farm fertilisation plans. It also further reviews the potential significance of long-term compost use in relation to its nutrient value and supply, its effect on mineral fertiliser dependency, and its contribution to farm resilience and budgeting through the regeneration of agricultural soils.

Compost Giveaways!

  • East Herts – Enter the East Herts compost giveaway. Entries close at 11.59pm on Friday 8 May 2026, and the 1,000 winners will be drawn at random. Compost will be delivered by Veolia crew members in summer 2026. Read more here.
  • West Suffolk Council – Free compost giveaway events will be held in on 6th and 13th May (10am-2pm) at Brandon Country Park and Haverhill Rugby Club, respectively. Residents can expect free council-produced compost while stocks last, as well as advice on waste management and sustainable gardening. Read more here.

  • Watford Borough Council, alongside environmental partner Veolia UK, is delighted to announce the return of its much‑loved free compost giveaway on Saturday 16 May 2026 10-11:30am at WD17 3EX. The compost has been generously donated by Envar West London Composting. Read more here.

  • East Riding Council – a series of compost giveaways throughout the month of May. Read more here.
    • Monday 11 May (From 4pm) – Pocklington, Wolds Gliding Club, Hodsow Lane, YO42 1NP
    • Saturday 16 May (From 10am) – Beverley, Council Depot, Annie Reed Road, HU17 0LF
    • Monday 18 May (From 4.30pm) – Preston, Lelley Fields Crematorium, Sproatley Road, HU12 8FX
    • Wednesday 20 May (From 4pm) – Goole, West Park, DN14 6UU
    • Friday 22 May (From 4.30pm) – Hornsea, Freeport, Rolston Road, HU18 1UT
    • Saturday 23 May (From 10am) – Carnaby, Council Depot, Lancaster Road, YO15 3QY
    • Wednesday 27 May (From 4pm) – Withernsea, Pavilion Car Park, Station Road, HU19 2QA
    • Friday 29 May (From 4pm) – Driffield Showground, Kelleythorpe, YO25 9DN

For more information about International Compost Awareness Week and how to get involved check out the Compost Research & Education Foundation’s webpage. Let’s celebrate the many wonders of compost together!