International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW)
May 2-8, 2021
What is it?International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry. It is celebrated nationwide and in multiple countries each year during the first full week of May. ICAW started in Canada in 1995 and has continued to grow as more people, businesses, municipalities, schools and organizations are recognizing the importance of composting and the long-term benefits from organics recycling.
The goal of the program is to raise the awareness of the public regarding the benefits of using compost to improve or maintain high quality soil, to grow healthy plants, reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, improve water quality, and protect the environment. The program includes a poster contest, programs at schools and activities and events promoted through governments, public municipalities and local businesses nationwide. Find resources to promote ICAW and the benefits of using compost on the Composting Council Research and Education's ICAW web page. |
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Events
Thank you to everyone who submitted a video or poster for the ICAW contests!
Congratulations to the 2021 Poster Contest winner, Anastasia Skachko. (Check out her winning poster above.)
About Anastasia:
Anastasia is a self-taught freelance digital artist from Kaliningrad, Russia. Out of nearly 700 entries from around the world, Anastasia's design was chosen. She likes to create unique fantasy worlds and creatures, and would describe her works as cute and whimsical, filled with mystery and magic. Currently, her family has a country house with a garden, and they do have a compost pile where they throw organic left-overs and plan to use the compost next season in their garden. This is how she describes her thought process when completing her poster design: "I imagined compost as cute little creatures who share their love with plants and vegetables, which help them grow."
Congratulations to the 2021 Poster Contest winner, Anastasia Skachko. (Check out her winning poster above.)
About Anastasia:
Anastasia is a self-taught freelance digital artist from Kaliningrad, Russia. Out of nearly 700 entries from around the world, Anastasia's design was chosen. She likes to create unique fantasy worlds and creatures, and would describe her works as cute and whimsical, filled with mystery and magic. Currently, her family has a country house with a garden, and they do have a compost pile where they throw organic left-overs and plan to use the compost next season in their garden. This is how she describes her thought process when completing her poster design: "I imagined compost as cute little creatures who share their love with plants and vegetables, which help them grow."
Congratulations to the 2021 Video Contest winner, Addy Ackerman-Leist.
About Addy:
Addy is an 11 year old fifth grader who lives on a farm in Vermont. Her family has a garden where they grow an assortment of foods including tomatoes, cabbage, beans, and lots of basil. This year Addy planted an “mystery” squash plant - it grew at least 15 butternut squashes. All of the household food waste (except for meat scraps which are eaten by chickens or the dog) is composted in a large bin made of shipping pallets, located next to the garden. Addy loves to cook and pick vegetables out of the garden, and sees compost as just a normal part of that whole cycle.
About Addy:
Addy is an 11 year old fifth grader who lives on a farm in Vermont. Her family has a garden where they grow an assortment of foods including tomatoes, cabbage, beans, and lots of basil. This year Addy planted an “mystery” squash plant - it grew at least 15 butternut squashes. All of the household food waste (except for meat scraps which are eaten by chickens or the dog) is composted in a large bin made of shipping pallets, located next to the garden. Addy loves to cook and pick vegetables out of the garden, and sees compost as just a normal part of that whole cycle.
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How can we celebrate International Compost Awareness Week?
Throughout the week of ICAW, community and business events are held to encourage and celebrate composting. All types of composting, from backyard to large-scale, are promoted. Events can include tours of compost facilities, school gardening programs, compost workshops, lectures by a well-known gardening expert, compost giveaway days, to name just a few. Click here to learn more about planning an event or to share information on your upcoming event. To learn more about how you can get involved with ICAW or plan an event in your community, click here to read the Celebrate ICAW Manual. If you are holding an event we would love to help promote it and to see your pictures! You can email them to: compostmn@gmail.com. |
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MNCC Celebrates ICAW
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We intended to celebrate ICAW 2020 with an event incorporating compost, raffles, community, and compost-related resources, but due to COVID-19, the event was canceled.
Like us on Facebook and join us in celebrating ICAW 2021 digitally from May 2-8th! |
Compost Site Locator
Use the Compost Site locator tool to find a compost site near you. Purchase compost from the site to start your victory garden, top dress your lawn, or give your potted plants a little boost. You can visit our Compost Uses webpage to learn more.
Composting Council's Research and Education Foundation
Every year the MNCC participates in the Composting Council's Research and Education Foundation's International Compost Awareness Week. The program hosts a poster contest and promotes holding compost events that take place in the first full week of May.
There are many ways to help reduce our carbon footprint and reduce climate change — adding compost to the soil is one tool in reducing climate change.and recognizes the connection between soil health and climate. By composting, carbon captured by plants from the atmosphere is returned to the soil. In addition, the compost, when returned to the soil, provides resistance to drought and disease, adds nutrients, improves its workability and reduces the release of nitrous oxide.
Throughout the week of ICAW, community and business events are held to encourage and celebrate composting. All types of composting – from backyard to large-scale are promoted. Events include tours of compost facilities, school gardening programs, compost workshops, lectures by a well-known gardening expert, compost give-away days, to name just a few. Click here to learn more about planning an event or to share information on your upcoming event. To learn more about how you can get involved with ICAW or plan an event in your community, click here to read the Celebrate ICAW Manual.
Many companies strongly support ICAW by becoming an ICAW sponsor.
There are many ways to help reduce our carbon footprint and reduce climate change — adding compost to the soil is one tool in reducing climate change.and recognizes the connection between soil health and climate. By composting, carbon captured by plants from the atmosphere is returned to the soil. In addition, the compost, when returned to the soil, provides resistance to drought and disease, adds nutrients, improves its workability and reduces the release of nitrous oxide.
Throughout the week of ICAW, community and business events are held to encourage and celebrate composting. All types of composting – from backyard to large-scale are promoted. Events include tours of compost facilities, school gardening programs, compost workshops, lectures by a well-known gardening expert, compost give-away days, to name just a few. Click here to learn more about planning an event or to share information on your upcoming event. To learn more about how you can get involved with ICAW or plan an event in your community, click here to read the Celebrate ICAW Manual.
Many companies strongly support ICAW by becoming an ICAW sponsor.
