Jo Heeps at her Glenbrook home, where the composting magic happens.
Story and photos by Julie Nance
Jo Heeps has prevented more than 11 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions being released from landfill each year, simply by composting coffee grounds and food scraps from her local Glenbrook café. That’s the equivalent of taking nearly five fossil-fuel-powered cars off the road for 12 months, or one and a half homes off the grid. Learn how you can also make a big impact.
Key Points:
Up to 33 per cent of the material in our red-lidded garbage bins is food waste that can be composted. Hundreds of tonnes of this food waste ends up in our local landfill each week. (As a guide, an African elephant weighs 2 to 7 tonnes!)
This waste takes up valuable space, generates CO2 and methane emissions and causes other environmental impacts that are expensive to manage.
Community composting helps us use food scraps and other material the way nature intended, to return valuable nutrients to the soil. Compost improves drainage, increases water holding capacity, stabilises soil temperature and has a wide range of other benefits.
Jo Heeps is a familiar figure in Glenbrook village, wheeling her collection bin back and forth between Kickaboom cafe and her nearby home. She’s been making the journey twice a week since October 2022.
Although she grew up with keen composting parents and grandparents, Jo didn’t have the opportunity to try it herself until she moved to the Blue Mountains from Glenmore Park with husband Ronnie.
She discovered Blue Mountains City Council was running a program called the Compost Hub. Through this interactive online platform, you can become a ‘champion’, accepting extra food scraps for your compost. If you are eager to stop your scraps from entering landfill, but can’t compost yourself, you can become a ‘contributor’. You can deliver food scraps to a champion or in Jo’s case, someone like her will come to you.
Jo signed up to the initiative and was delighted to get an email from Kickaboom soon after. A wonderful partnership was born.
“I was new to the community and wanted to get involved somehow,” says Jo, a mother-of-two and a grandma of one. “It’s fabulous working with the team at Kickaboom. I always know from the scraps what’s on the menu.
Jo’s compost bins are enclosed in a wire mesh cage that came with the house.
Material suitable for home composting includes kitchen food scraps, tea bags, eggshells, citrus, newspaper, egg cartons, tissues, lawn clippings, garden prunings, dust, lint and hair.
Jo started her compost enterprise with one donated 220 litre Council compost bin, later receiving a second one to cope with the volume of Kickaboom scraps. Over time she added two extra bins of her own.
She averages about 120 litres of organic waste from the café each week, using a trolley to make moving the bin easier.
“After about five months, I put the compost bin contents over different sections of my garden,” she says. “I feel like it saves water as the garden holds the water better. The vegetables I’ve grown and the plants, have been really high quality.
“I used to go to Bunnings to buy fertiliser. Now I mostly use the compost and my worm farm wee.”
Jo’s beautiful front garden that is being nurtured by her compost.
A stunning back garden that Jo enjoys pottering around in with her 3-year-old grandson, who is learning how to compost.
Kickaboom Manager Kat Kroon says before partnering with Jo, the café paid for two red-lidded bins to be emptied twice a week.
“I didn’t feel comfortable about our food scraps just sitting in landfill, contributing to CO2 ,” she says.
“Through the partnership, we saved money with only one bin pick up a week. Just one small step can snowball. Having that community inclusion with Jo, and to know that we are doing better for our planet, gives us more meaning.”
Kickaboom Manager Kat Kroon with some of the café’s food scraps, once destined for landfill.
A friendly and productive partnership: Kat and Jo, with her trusty collection bin and trolley.
Kickaboom produces such large quantities of coffee grounds that Jo can’t take it all. To avoid the excess material ending up in landfill, they offer free bags of coffee grounds out the front of the café each day, which is quickly snapped up. Kickaboom also entered into a second partnership.
“One of our baristas has a cold brew company called My Mate Dave Coffee,” Kat explains. “We’ve partnered with them, giving them coffee grounds. They add essential oils and other ingredients and we are now selling a coffee scrub that you can use in the shower.”
Coffee scrub for sale.
Staff at Jo and Ronnie’s business in Penrith, Truck Hydraulic Solutions, are also enjoying doing their bit, contributing coffee grounds and a garbage bag of shredded paper to Jo’s compost each week.
Jo finds the process of watching her compost contents breaking down fascinating. A keen baker, she likens composting to cooking.
“It’s like baking a cake, as you use all your senses,” she says. “I’m looking at it. I’m smelling it, I’m feeling it. And it’s just knowing that the mix looks right, which takes a little bit of playing around.”
In addition to the compost nourishing her extensive garden, Jo also grows vegetables, some of which she donates back to the café.
Some of Jo’s fresh picks from her garden. (Photo: Jo Heeps)
Here are some of Jo’s top composting tips she’s gathered on her journey:
Before throwing things out, think about what you can do with them – whether it’s recycling or composting.
I bought second-hand books on composting which really helped. The best one was The Compost Coach by Kate Flood. (This is available in Blue Mountains libraries).
Because it takes months for material to break down, the smaller your waste is before you put it into your compost bin, the quicker the process e.g. cutting it up or shredding it. Some people even blitz it in a blender.
Use compost activators e.g. coffee grounds, which also helps speed things up. I use blood and bone occasionally.
Keep turning your compost every two to three days. In the centre of the compost bin, I put a pipe with holes in it, to help aerate the material.
Use compostable bags so you don’t have to keep cleaning out your kitchen scrap bin, which may deter you from continuing.
(Compostable bags only break down well in warm compost. If you don’t turn your compost regularly, it’s best to empty your bag into the compost and dispose of the bag or reuse it).
Author Kate Flood’s book has been a composting bible for Jo.
Jo recommends chopping up food waste before putting it into the kitchen scrap bin, to help the compost break down more quickly.
Jo puts a plastic pipe with holes in it, into her compost bin to help with aeration. The insects, worms and microbes all need air to live but as ingredients break down, it can all drop, pushing air out. Turning compost over brings air back into the system and the pipe approach helps too.
Erin Hall, Blue Mountains City Council Senior Project Officer, Circular Economy, says you only need to start small with composting. Even if you put your material into the compost bin and you don’t do another thing with it, you are making a positive contribution.
“Methane generated in landfill is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and it is Council’s biggest emitter in our LGA,” she says.
“So, when we’re talking about reducing climate change, one of the best things you can do is compost. As Jo has shown, small actions can yield big results.” – Erin Hall, BMCC Senior Project Officer, Circular Economy
Take Action:
Sign up to be a compost champion or contributor or find out more.
Find a compost champion or contributor near you by searching the Compost Hub map. There are many champions throughout the Blue Mountains waiting for contributors. They will be grateful to receive your food scraps.
Jo has been nominated in Blue Mountains City Council’s ‘Binfluencer Awards’, recognising and celebrating members of the community working towards our goal of zero waste. There are three themes: Avoid, reuse and recycle. For more information go to https://yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/blue-mountains-binfluencer-awards
Book a free Blue Mountains City Council composting workshop or choose other topics related to managing waste that are of interest. A group of 10 people is required.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
We`re thrilled that the Bearded Ladies Community Choir will be performing at the Peace Picnic which is part of the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium on Saturday 2 August. Check out the full day program and book your ticket here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
We`re offering a great opportunity for 6-8 yr olds to learn some fun basic textile skills next Thursday 17 July, that will give them the confidence and inspiration to eventually learn how to sew, upcycle and repair! You can book a place here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/weaving-and-embroidery-workshop-for-6-8yr-olds
Did you know that the Peace Symbol, designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958, is based on flag semaphore signals? The vertical line represents the semaphore signal for "D" (for disarmament), and the downward lines represent "N" (for nuclear). Design and make your own Peace Badge at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium and Peace Picnic on Saturday 2nd August at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre (bookings here (link in profile: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium).
On another one of the badges below, the phrase "Hell no, we won`t go" is one which gained prominence in Australia during the Vietnam War, when conscription was introduced. Many young men refused to be conscripted, leading to protests, demonstrations, and the formation of anti-war movements. These movements, including the Moratorium campaigns, played a significant role in shaping public opinion and ultimately contributing to the end of Australia`s involvement in the war.
The Planetary Health Peace Symposium is bringing together veterans of the Peace Movement (including an organiser of the Moratorium campaign), Rotary and Quakers, Robert Tickner AO (ambassador for ICAN: the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), Mayor Mark Greenhill, a signatory of Mayors for Peace, Susan Templeman MP, Indonesian Ambassador Dr Siswo Pramono on Indonesia’s ratification of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, as well as community members concerned about a world increasingly consumed by war. On the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, participate in a program of talks, film, stalls, music, art and a Community Peace Picnic as, together, we take urgent action for nuclear disarmament and peace.
It`s been 80 years since the horror of nuclear weapons was first unleashed with the US bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Find out how we can work together to stop this madness and grow a Movement for Peace at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium on Saturday 2nd August. The day will include presentations by Robert Tickner AO, the Ambassador for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN); Mayor Mark Greenhill on Mayors for Peace; Susan Templeman MP; Dr Siswo Pramano: Indonesian Ambassador; veterans of the Peace Movement and young activists; Rowe Morrow OAM from Quakers; Jennifer Scott AM from Rotary International; journalist Harumi Hayakawa; and Dharug man Chris Tobin. It will also include a film screening, and a Community Peace Picnic with food, exhibition, stalls, badge and origami crane making and live music with the Bearded Ladies Community Choir. The Symposium has been organised by the Blue Mountains Peace Collective and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Please share to help us grow a movement and book your tickets at the link below (link in profile):
The Bushcare Seed Collectors are meeting today from 10am to 3pm at the Planetary Health Centre. It`s a great way to learn more about propagating native plants. Watch our video below and read more in Katoomba Area Local News: https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/...
The Bushcare Seed Collectors are meeting today from 10am to 3pm at the Planetary Health Centre. It`s a great way to learn more about propagating native plants. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News: https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/ (link in profile)
We are holding School Holiday workshops for young people on Thursday 17 July. In these fun workshops with Sherlie Mcmillan (known for her Fashion Upcycling and Women`s Shed workshops) young people will be introduced to woodwork and textile crafts with a great teacher! Accompanying adults welcome.
Book for the Weaving and Embroidery Workshop for 6-8 yr olds here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/weaving-and-embroidery-workshop-for-6-8yr-olds
Book for the Workshop for 8-12 yr olds to Create a Pom Pom Launcher, Pom Poms and Headband here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/create-a-pom-pom-launcher-pom-poms-and-headband
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Register your interest to join everyone at the Tree Planting Day here:
Join us for this fabulous workshop: Designing Your Future Home on Saturday 19 July (10am-12 noon) Create a Healthy, Comfortable and Energy-Efficient Home
Join local Passive House Designer Karina Rafailov from Earthy Haus for a relaxed, interactive, and inspiring workshop. Whether you’re planning a new build or thinking about a renovation, this session will empower you with the knowledge to create a home that’s healthier for your family and kinder to the planet.
Places are strictly limited in this hands-on workshop so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/workshop-designing-your-future-home-tickets-1417752157869
As an increasing number of people are being affected by winter viruses, we’re offering a free session of Tai Chi and Qigong on Saturday 5 July in the warmth of our beautiful Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition. Places are limited so book in early here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/40fnGW2 Learn more about these Chinese medicine movement practices in the video interview with Virginia Field on our YouTube channel (link in profile) and read about how Chinese medicine helped her overcome illness as a young woman in our story: Healing Body, Mind and Spirit with Tai Chi and Qigong here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/tai-chi-and-qigong/
If you’re interested in learning how to propagate native plants and are keen to help our bush regenerate, the Bushcare Seed Collectors meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Check out how they cook Banksias to release their seed and learn more about the group, and native seed collecting, in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/bushcare-seed-collectors/
If you’d like to join the group, contact the Bushcare officer Tracy Abbas on 4780 5623 or email tabbas@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
Julie Nance is a community storyteller with the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. In her coverage of the Lower Mountains area, she brings 30 years’ experience in communications, publishing and journalism.
After specialising in health and social issues as a journalist, Julie led creative teams in the government and not-for-profit sectors including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, YMCA NSW, Cancer Council NSW and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Julie is passionate about empowering people with quality information to help them make informed choices.
Julie Nance invited her 82-year-old mum to join her on outings in Lower Mountains parks, after months of being confined to home due to sickness. With fond memories of family picnics growing up, their quality time together in nature gave them both a much-needed lift.
