ARCHIVED - AlmerÃa village goes green by turning bio-waste into compost; Your rubbish creates life
The little Andalusian village of Almócita wants to help the environment and cut costs at the same time by self-managing 20 tonnes of biodegradable waste per year.
The 176 residents of Almócita, in Almería, have decided to do their bit for the planet and save themselves some money at the same time by making compost from their organic or biodegradable rubbish rather than sending it elsewhere for treatment.
Three community composting sites have been set up in the village, which will turn around 20 tonnes of bio-waste into compost every year, reducing its carbon footprint.
The ‘Your rubbish creates life’ initiative, launched by the local council in collaboration with the Trotamundos Animado environmental association, has taught the villagers how to compost and given them special containers to fill and then take to the composting sites. Magnets and information leaflets on suitable waste and what to do with it have also been handed out and the whole process, including how to add bulking material and turn the compost to air it, demonstrated at one of the sites. The compost produced will be used as a fertiliser for local orchards, gardens and green spaces.
The little village in the Alpujarra area of Almería, which is also firmly committed to organic agriculture, sustainable construction and energy supply from renewable energies, will be one of the first to recycle its own bio-waste by composting. The move comes well ahead of EU deadlines for mandatory separate collection of bio-waste by 2023.