Waiheke’s Octogenarian Compost Champion

Every Thursday morning, Jan Horton suits up in dungarees, a cap, gloves and a face mask ready to do business. The  81-year-old grandmother, All Blacks fan, and ex-member of the hip-operation dance crew, is the compost champion of the Waiheke Retirement Village. Once kitted out, Jan places a tarpaulin in the back of her Nissan Leaf and collects full food waste bins from her community. 

Jan's zero-waste project began with a chance meeting of Waiheke Resource Trust's (WRT)  Compost Lead, Mike Fogarty, on the Waiheke ferry. Jan was inspired by Mike's project and decided to reactivate and improve the village's then-dormant composting program. The original program charged residents a weekly fee, but Jan used her business and sales skills to convince management to fund the inclusion of the village in the WRTs collection program, making it accessible to all. Jan spread the word by knocking on residents' doors inviting them to join, and leaving fliers about the project around the village. She even accompanied those confused about which bin to buy to the shops so they got the right one.

Jan empties the residents’ food waste in a WRT bin in her backyard, Mike then collects it and processes it into compost.  The compost is then available for the community to purchase at the Waiheke Sustainability Centre ($20 for 20L). To make the process as easy as possible for the elderly residents, Jan cleans and dries the bins in her carport before returning them to their owners. Jan’s project has also strengthened social bonds in the community, providing an opportunity for connection and support. Jan's rounds tend to take a little extra time now, as she is often offered coffee and baked goods, with residents looking forward to her weekly visits and the opportunity to chat.

Each new resident is briefed and invited to join. Jan's unwavering dedication to the project has created significant growth in the four years since it began. She now has 20-30 households on her weekly roster, increasing WRT pick-ups from twice to four times per week. Jan's commitment to the environment has encouraged her to take on more projects, including the collection and correct disposal of soft plastics, tetrapacks and Meals on Wheels foils from the village. Jan arranges her life events to allow for her weekly collection time, creating a social routine for the village and ensuring that food scraps are always saved from landfill.

Jan's love of the environment and being green has always been inspired by her daughter, and she believes “volunteering is what keeps you young - keeps your head going” Some of Jan's fellow residents think she’s “a bit mad” for spending time on the proper disposal of food waste, and her funky compost outfit has led to the nickname “the rubbish lady”. Jan is unphased, believing that every 15 minute action can have a positive impact, that being “one dot among many” will create a sustainable future. When asked how she viewed her work she said, “it’s nothing glamorous, I’m just a working woman and a bit of a greenie”.

If you are interested in purchasing locally made, nutrient-dense compost, visit wrt.org.nz $20 per bag and $5 delivery around Waiheke.  If you want to learn more about Waiheke’s food scrap collection, email zoe@wrt.org.nz