Parish priest Father Richard unveils the church's hot (new) composter
Churchgoers in White City are leading the charge against food waste.
Instead of binning their food scraps, local residents can now recycle them at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Commonwealth Avenue. The parish invested in a new hot composter as part of their efforts to take climate action together.
The community was supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council's Climate Action Microgrants, which help residents kick-start their own sustainable neighbourhood projects.
Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology, said: "It's been inspiring to see the sheer abundance of ideas to future-proof our borough. Our microgrants can help you get started. It's all part of our efforts to support residents to take climate action together."
Learn more about our Climate Action Microgrants here.
A community effort
Our Lady of Fatima has banned plastic and promotes environmental action through weekly activities, including garage sales, knitting clubs and sewing workshops.
It is also part of H&F's Warm Welcomes network, providing weekly support to residents struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Every Tuesday, the church opens its doors to the community, offering a hot meal, children's sports and play, and arts and crafts.
Building on the church's work, Father Richard decided to "get composting" to help raise awareness about the negative impact land-filled food scraps have on the environment and how they can, instead, be repurposed to benefit your garden.
"It is still quite a small-scale project, but it has already had a significant impact," he said.
Cut down on waste, emissions and costs
The average UK household throws away £60 of edible food each month.
Food waste doesn't belong in the recycling bin. But some scrap products, including fruit and vegetable peelings, eggshells and coffee grounds, are suitable for home composting.
A hot composter can help you save money, cut emissions and turn your biodegradable refuse into rich, fertile compost perfect for nourishing gardens, soil and plants.
The naturally-occuring bacteria break down organic materials in the garden waste during the hot composting process, releasing heat and water.
There was a slight learning curve, Father Richard adds: "There are a few tricks to achieve optimal results. I've had a great time learning how to get the best results."
Get composting
And you too can get composting!
Anyone living in H&F can benefit from our 'buy-one-get-one-free' compost bin scheme – ideal if neighbours or friends want to start composting together.
There are a variety of compost bins suitable for all households, including flats. Learn more on our garden waste and home composting webpage.
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