You are probably familiar with the concept of composting, but have you ever heard of Bokashi composting?
Earlier this month, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School (SEHC) in Ōtara hosted 54 teachers from 13 local schools, all keen to dive into the world of Bokashi composting.
Bokashi is a type of composting that uses fermentation in a sealed container. It's ideal for those with limited space, small gardens, or who need compost quickly. It handles a wide range of kitchen scraps, without the need for stirring or air flow.
Apulu Reece Autagavaia, chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, is thrilled to see several of the area’s 24 enviro-schools contribution to local climate actions and is delighted with the success of the recent cluster event.
“I truly believe the most impactful climate action happens at our schools! The board is thrilled to see our rangatahi leading the charge with such creative, meaningful, and enjoyable approaches to being climate heroes. They’re hosting events where they present, build confidence, show leadership, and network.
“A heartfelt thank you to the middle school rangatahi and Council’s Sustainable Schools team, for bringing together so many like-minded individuals and becoming accessible climate information hubs for our community. While climate change remains a serious threat, knowing our rangatahi are at the forefront of this movement gives us great hope for the future.”
Eight middle school sustainability students from SEHC, who are responsible for their Bokashi system, shared their process and inspired the cluster with their commitment to waste minimisation.
Audience at cluster night.
Their first waste audit showed 81.16 kg of waste daily, with 26.24 kg being organic fruit waste. They tackled this by bokashi composting, as their citrus fruit wasn’t worm friendly. By 2023, their organic waste dropped to 7.54 kg thanks to these efforts.
This year, under the guidance of teacher Marleen George, these climate heroes are on a mission to cut fruit waste to zero.
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School’s Bokashi presentation.
Sustainable Schools Advisor Cate Jessep says, “We honour teachers, for being daily climate role models and for their pivotal role in nurturing future Climate Heroes.
“Special thanks to Marleen for showing how empowering your Sustainability Group with the Bokashi System at SEHC creates real, impactful learning opportunities. It was inspiring to see their dedication to reducing waste and leading by example, and we hope their efforts encourage more schools to start their own Bokashi systems.”
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School’s Bokashi presentation.
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