Elizabeth College says the school has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to environmental sustainability with the arrival of a new Ridan Pro 400 commercial composting system.
The purchase was made possible by a £2,000 grant from the Condor Community Fund.
The “substantial” upgrade to the school’s composting capabilities will allow it to process up to 200kg of food waste per week, a considerable increase from their previous smaller-scale operation. The composter will handle food waste from the Refectory and staff kitchen, along with plant waste from biology experiments, grass cuttings, and other compostable materials.
The school’s Eco Team, established in 2018, played a key role in securing the grant and has been the driving force behind numerous other eco-friendly initiatives at the college. Their efforts have earned Elizabeth College the prestigious Green Flag Award, recognising their commitment to youth-led environmental education and action.
Beyond composting, the Eco Team has organised events like pre-loved clothing swaps also called “swishing”, bike donations to the Eleanor Foundation, plant and seed sales, nature-themed activities, and even the publication of a plant-based cookbook.
The College Conservation Group also contributes through initiatives like sour-fig removal at coastal sites and work at the college allotment.
Elizabeth College Teacher and Eco Team Lead Sharka Lee said: “For the past three years the Eco Team has been raising money towards a commercial size composter and three maturation boxes, so to have received an additional boost from Condor has been transformative.
“We want to show that it is possible for a school to compost all its waste locally and hopefully inspire other large organisations to start composting. Homemade compost is the best quality compost you can get. Together we can make local soil healthy and improve the quality of our green spaces.”
The Condor Community Fund, which supported this acquisition, provides grants of up to £2,000 to community projects that demonstrate sustainability, offer local benefit, and provide enjoyment for others.
Justin Amey, Head of Sales and Marketing at Condor Ferries, said: “We are very impressed by the innovative and sustainable initiatives at Elizabeth College, so were happy to support the purchase of the new equipment.”
