The Compost Team of SMK (P) Sri Aman is a club consisting of students set in their ways to save the environment. Aware of the condition poor Mother Earth is currently in, the club is actively producing organic fertilizers-better known as ‘compost.’ The process involves collecting organic waste thrown out of the school canteen and turning them into organic fertilisers through various methods.
The club was formed in the early months of 2008. Although it is a new club, the members are actively working under the Environmental Team of SMK (P) Sri Aman, contributing to the reduction of school wastage and also reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. Basically, the club turns waste into worth. The fertilisers produced are then sold to the school staff and students. The project is a simple one but leaves quite an effect on the environment as reduction of wastage can greatly reduce landfills and thus, saves the Earth. Chemical fertilisers are slowly being pushed out of the market due to many researches done on compost, proving that it has more pros than we are all aware of and can ultimately conquer chemical fertilisers in terms of effect on plants. The team realizes the tremendous change compost can make to the environment and is actively conducting small scale researches and experiments in school.
Their current project is focused solely on producing organic fertilisers. In their first and second year, the team made compost using the ‘old method’. Wastes were cut manually using knives and chopping boards. In early 2010, the team designed a machine together with their club advisor to make the production of compost easier and better. This method is known as the ‘new method’. Since then, compost has improved drastically in both quality and quantity. Money generated from the project has also increased as compost drew even more customers during that year.
Instilling awareness among students is also part of the team’s job. The effect of an individual making compost is, of course, nothing compared to a whole school effort. The team constantly attends competitions and talks to help raise awareness among the public as well. Many countries have started taking compost as a serious matter. It is the team’s hope to help Malaysia become one of those countries and work hand-in-hand with the others to change the world for the better.
Is that all for the Compost Team? In the year 2011, the team plans to start a new project. Organic fertilisers will be an ongoing project, but it does not stop the introduction of new projects. Members have suggested new things and a few prospective projects have been identified. The probability of the team starting a ‘Compost Tea’ project is high, though no specific plans have been confirmed yet.
The job is a heavy one for a small team. Nevertheless, it is a start. It is about time that individuals start making their own compost and play their part in saving the Earth.
