Llanfoist Fawr Primary School has taken a significant step towards sustainability by becoming a pilot school to host a hybrid Bokashi and aerobic composting pilot, supported by Monmouthshire County Council as part of its Sustainable Food Projects programme.
The school has a long-standing commitment to reducing waste and improving environmental awareness among pupils. During monitoring of lunchtime waste, pupils identified that a significant volume of cooked food and plate scrapings, which cannot be added to conventional compost bins, was being thrown away. This prompted the school to explore alternative solutions that could safely and effectively divert this waste from disposal.
The pilot introduces an innovative two-stage composting system, combining Bokashi fermentation with aerobic composting using a Ridan food waste composter.
Unlike traditional composting, Bokashi is an anaerobic fermentation process that uses a specially inoculated bran to treat food waste, including cooked food, dairy and small amounts of meat. The food waste is sealed and fermented, preventing odours, deterring pests, and significantly reducing nitrogen loss while suppressing harmful methane emissions.
After an initial fermentation period the Bokashi-treated food waste enters a pre-compost stage. At this point, it is transferred into the Ridan, where it is blended with carbon-rich materials and processed aerobically. The Ridan system accelerates breakdown through mechanical mixing and airflow, producing a stable compost material suitable for further maturation in compost bays before being used in the school grounds and growing areas.
This hybrid anaerobic–aerobic approach allows food waste that would otherwise be unsuitable for standard composting systems to be safely recycled on site, while also providing a highly visible, educational process for pupils to engage with circular food systems, soil health and climate-positive action.
The project is being delivered through funding from the Monmouthshire Food Partnership and Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), with technical delivery and training led by Agriton UK, specialists in Bokashi and Effective Microorganisms, working alongside the Ridan composting system.
Cllr Sara Burch, Monmouthshire County Council Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Housing and Tourism, said: “We’re delighted to support Llanfoist Fawr Primary School in trialling this innovative composting approach.
“It is a fantastic example of how schools can lead the way in sustainability while engaging children in meaningful, hands-on environmental learning.”