In this series:

Part 1: Dublin waste problem

Part 2: Crampton Buildings community composting story

Part 3: What next for the Crampton buildings scheme

Part 4: Frequently asked questions about vermicomposting

Part 5: Frequently asked questions about community composting

Part 6: Other community composting resources

IPCC Community composting & wildlife Gardening Resources

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Worm Composting: Winning the Battle Against Waste

Crampton Buildings Residents Community Composting Project

By Sadhbh O' Neill

Part 3: What next for Crampton Buildings?

Our next job is to develop detailed landscaping and horticultural proposals for the green area, leaving the existing design as it is but adding a wider variety of plants and some furniture such as bird tables, additional window boxes with herbs, outdoor seats/ benches and a sandpit for smaller children. We aim to include native varieties of herbs and other plants to encourage native wildlife back into an inner city urban environment. Crampton Buildings is already an oasis of green space in Temple Bar but it needs improvement.

Residents at the launch of the composting scheme.

This project is unique, not simply because of the history of the purchase of Crampton Buildings and the residents' efforts in that regard, but also because of the fact that this project provides a model for tenant participation in the maintenance of communal areas and waste management. This is a integrated community of all ages that is willing to embrace new ideas and fresh approaches. If successful, this project could be replicated almost elsewhere in the city.

Website
We constructed this website to promote our project, and composting in general. There is a dearth of information on the subject, and we find many people approaching us directly for information about

- how to set up a worm bin
- setting up a larger-scale composting scheme
- is it successful/ what are the problems?
- What is happening in other parts of Ireland
- What is happening in other countries?

We think that providing good and accessible information resources is critical to securing participation of individuals and groups. People need to feel that there is help available if they are embarking on a new project, especially if they run into difficulties.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council have produced some high quality materials on composting, but there is little to explain how to successfully manage a large scale wormery. We found the internet was our best source of information, and furthermore, we think that by establishing these pages we will be in a good position to help other communities set up projects of their own.

Thanks to our sponsors

DUBLIN CORPORATION