Compost Collaborations

Note from the map makers: This map is updated as of 2021. We are exploring other ways to map, and will not be updating this map for the time being. As some compost makers have stopped actively composting or have left the country, we are removing contact information that was available in the maps.

There are awesome apps like @sharewaste and @makesoil. So why do we create another map?

There is value of discovering and connecting with people who share your interest and live or work near you. We created the first map version in 2018 when we urgently needed to reach out to many individuals who would be willing to receive food waste from mass events for composting.

In the process of making that first map, we crowd-sourced data from people who identify as Compost Makers, and Food Scrap Givers. This seeded the beginnings of informal collaborations.

This is a Story Map to bring visibility to the budding food scrap composting movement in Singapore. The map is updated on an ad-hoc basis when our Map Maker volunteers have the capacity. Reach out to us at projectblackgoldsg@gmail.com if you like to volunteer or ask us about the initiative.

Save this link for future visits!  https://arcg.is/riOyL 

Click on the map icons to read what Compost Makers said they were willing to receive. Click on the 2-arrow icon on the upper right corner to view the map at full-screen.

Since July 2020, Project Black Gold has been test-bedding ideas for community composting at 3 selected neighbourhoods. More information will be shared in coming months.

Food Scrap Givers are people who give food scraps from their homes or businesses. Some are willing to travel to pass these food scraps to Compost Makers. Some do a drop-off.

Click on the map icons to read what Food Scrap Givers said they were willing to give. Click on the 2-arrow icon on the upper right corner to view the map at full-screen.

Compost Givers are people who have tried their hand at composting but they don't have a soil-based garden or one that is large enough to take in what they are producing.

Click on the map icons to read what Compost Givers said they were willing to give. Click on the 2-arrow icon on the upper right corner to view the map at full-screen.

The first version of this map was created by  @cuifen.pui  in 2018.

Cuifen and friends discovered a way to rescue 300++kgs of banana peels at marathon events. Being a runner and compost maker, Cuifen asked if the marathon organiser would allow them to rescue banana peels for composting. This simple ask created an opening for conducting similar rescue and distribution efforts at other mass events. It came to a point where efforts by the group meant that there were more peels than what compost makers at a few community gardens were prepared to accept.

So that the rescued peels would not be wasted, Cuifen turned to crowdsourcing. She asked followers of  @foodscapecollective  Facebook page and group if they made compost and would be willing to accept food scraps for composting. At the same time, she asked if there are others who wanted to give food scraps to compost makers. The response was amazing!

Since then, the map has gone through a few iterations.

If you like to know more about the movement in Singapore, check out this  South China Morning Post article  and  @projectblackgold.sg