All4Compost: Civil Society in Action for Circular Green Waste Management is a new European Union-funded project for the circular utilization of agricultural prunings and livestock waste and the empowerment of civil society. The project is launched in the Lefke District, with the TC[NE(1] Chamber of Agricultural Engineers as the lead partner, AKTI Project and Research Centre, and the Lefke Society for the Preservation of the Environment and Ecology. All4Compost, funded by the European Union under the Aid Program for the Turkish Cypriot community, aims to bring to the Turkish Cypriot community an innovative, economically sustainable, participatory and locally adapted model for the management of agricultural prunings and the production of compost, based on the active participation of civil society.
With the creation of the "Lefke Compost Community" as its central objective, the project aims to bring farmers, local authorities, organizations and citizens together to co-design and co-own a functional scheme for the collection of agricultural [NE(2] prunings and their transformation into high-quality and low-cost compost. Farmers will provide their organic residues and will receive ready compost in return, reducing their costs and actively contributing to the reduction of the environmental footprint of their activities. AKTI, utilizing its experience in the co-management of green waste and bi-communal cooperation, will transfer its know-how to the Turkish Cypriot community and contribute to the design, technical guidance and adaptation of the model to the specific conditions of the district.
Why the Lefke District?
The Lefke District, with a long agricultural tradition but also acute environmental challenges, faces significant problems of accumulated green waste, burning of prunings, and soil degradation. All4Compost provides a practical, low-cost and socially fair solution, through the utilization of the Symbiotic and Circular Green Waste Management Scheme, a model [NE(3]) already recognized and applied through innovative European projects in Cyprus.
Within the project, mapping of green waste and existing infrastructure will take place, together with participatory workshops for co-designing the scheme, training for farmers, local authorities and organizations, as well as demonstrations of the composting process in practice, using equipment and tools that ensure a sustainable and low-cost process. In parallel, awareness-raising and educational activities in schools and among citizens will contribute to shaping a new culture of responsible green waste management.
With All4Compost, a new path opens for local self-sufficiency in quality, low-cost compost, the protection of soil fertility, and the creation of more resilient and sustainable rural areas in the agricultural communities of Cyprus. Through participatory processes, education, practical training and the establishment of a co-management community, the project strengthens citizens' skills, empowers local society and cultivates a spirit of cooperation and collective action.
About AKTI
AKTI Project and Research Center is a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was established in 2000 by a group of experts in environmental issues and has succeeded today in creating an extensive network of collaborators and volunteers for raising environmental awareness and promoting sustainable development. AKTI's areas of work include applied environmental research, environmental education and vocational training, integrated coastal zone management and marine environment, public outreach, and advocacy.
For more information, please visit AKTI's website: https://akti.org.cy/
[NE(1)Not to be confused with the Chamber of Agri Engineers in the Republic
[NE(2]We cannot refer to the municipalities in the northern part of the island
[NE(3)Not allowed to mention any company names
