The Semaphore Compost Network is a coalition of businesses, schools, backyard gardeners & community gardens in and around Semaphore and Port Adelaide.

The Network aims to:

• assist and support the regular collection and recycling of food ‘waste’ generated by local restaurants, cafes and food retailers in Adelaide’s North-West &…
• to help the community to build knowledge and skills in using recycling strategies
• promote composting strategies to improve our sandy coastal soils
• support backyard gardening & food production.

For businesses:  The Network aims to:

• provide links between business and the community to foster more sustainable economic activity
• support individuals, community groups & schools to share valuable community knowledge
• encourage business plans incorporating sustainability & waste-recycling goals. 

For home gardeners: The Network supports the improvement of our local environment & soils, recycling and waste reduction, providing opportunities to build skills, resilience & reduce the cost of living for the local community.

Joining & Participation: Anyone can join the Semaphore Compost Network, either as a ‘contributor’ (usually a cafe, restaurant or other business enterprise), as a ‘collector’ (home gardeners, community gardens and school-composting & gardening programs) or simply as an individual interested in composting, gardening or recycling activities. 

Commitments: Business enterprises are asked to commit to organising and collecting their waste streams to meet the needs of collectors and to regularly report waste diversions (by approximate weight). They receive Network accreditation and window stickers (see left). Collectors are asked to join a regular collection schedule, always return/exchange cleaned collection containers and liaise with their local  compost community & partners about any disruptions, schedule changes etc.

Community Benefits: Collectors benefit from access to:

• a community knowledge-base via our website & facebook group
• news updates
• organised training events and…
• an organised monthly Network Get-Together. 

Gardens (and our sandy, water-shedding, coastal Semaphore soils) benefit from much improved soil nutrition, soil structure & productivity!