Update – We’ve had a positive outcome to our campaign
Thank you everyone for your support in contacting Councillors and by liking and sharing the Save Community Composting messages. The good news is that BHCC are no longer stopping the funding for Community Composting. This would not have happened without your support. Whilst there will be a reduction in the overall amount BHFP receives, we will be able to support the current schemes and organise / pay for repairs. We want to thank Officers and Councillors at BHCC for reconsidering their initial decision.
Save Community Composting – Open Letter
Brighton & Hove City Council Cabinet Meeting on 12th Feb agreed to papers that included a ‘budget saving’ of £35K on Community Composting.
This is the entire budget that enables 1400 households to participate.
We appreciate that Brighton & Hove City Council is under enormous budget pressures but with an overall budget for refuse collection, disposal and recycling of £42.8 million we believe the cost / benefit of Community Composting punches well above its weight.
This funds a part-time Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Food Partnership supporting over 150+ volunteers for 58 neighbourhood schemes across the city; hand tools, repairs and replacement bins. This decision has been made without any consultation with the volunteers and households involved.
The Food Partnership had a meeting with Councillor Rowkins (Chair of Environment Committee) who said he recognised the importance of Community Composting. But, the current position is that there is no funding agreed after 31st March 2026 and no plan in place for what would happen if the funding is cut.
Our Ask
Reverse the decision to cut the £35K from the city’s waste and recycling budget for Community Composting.
Why
- This is a flagship project with at least 5000 people involved. For the last 14 years it has been at the heart of Brighton & Hove City Council’s waste reduction and recycling strategy – celebrated nationally and internationally as a ground-breaking approach
- It is still popular – there are 500+ people on the waiting list.
- Without the co-ordination role the Food Partnership plays (volunteer recruitment and training, management of the waiting lists, Environment Agency waste exemptions, repairs, community education etc) schemes are likely to fail
- The introduction of a separate food waste collection service does not take away from the impact of Community Compost. The service can operate effectively alongside the Council’s food waste collection
- The scheme produces high quality living compost – the soil health is considerably better than that produced via the food waste collection service
- There are no transport costs (and no carbon associated with transport)
- Unlike the compost produced by the domestic waste collection which is sold back to us at £6.25 a bag the compost made in the city is free to use for growing in the city.
- The 58 citywide schemes create community connections (many schemes have kick started local groups caring for local green spaces)
- BHCC recently adopted a Circular Economy route map as part of their economic strategy. Food scraps to compost to local food growing – you don’t get more circular than Community Composting!
- Withdrawing this funding would remove a proven waste prevention programme, a retrograde step. It will increase the demand on the Council waste services, and risk damaging community relationships.
- The cut also risks the match funding (worth £15K in 2025) that Brighton & Hove Food Partnership brings in for the composting work in schools and community
We urge the council to reconsider this decision.
If you believe Community Composting should be saved:
- Email your local councillor – Share the link to the above letter and email simply saying you agree and support the scheme. Councillor Email Addresses / Find your local councillor here or visit www.writetothem.com and use their simple form (don’t forget to confirm your email via your inbox after).
- Keep an eye on our socials – Like & share anything compost related on our Instagram & Facebook.
