Little Rotters - Composting Handbook - 2nd Ed

This handbook has been put together using the wealth
of information and experience gained through working

with a number of primary schools in Leicestershire.
During this time, a number of approaches were trialed,
involving pupils and teachers in setting up sustainable
Little Rotters Composting Clubs. A broad cross-section
of schools were selected aiming to be representative of
schools nationwide.
Thank you to the following schools for participating in

the project:
Ashby Hilltop
Broom Leys School
Donisthorpe Primary School
Dovelands Primary School
Dunton Bassett Primary School
Ellistown Community Primary
Great Bowden C of E Primary School
Griffydam Primary
The Grove Primary School
Heatherbrook Primary School
Herrick Primary School
Highcliffe Primary School
Ibstock Junior School
Orchard Community Primary
Queniborough C of E Primary School
Saint Peters Catholic Primary School
Sir John Moore Primary School
Sparkenhoe Community Primary School
St John the Baptist Primary
Thringstone Primary
Introduction
Why Study Composting 4
Composting and the Environment 6
Composting the breakdown 7
Involving Key Stage 1 8
Teachers Guide to Composting in School
Why Compost at School 10
Positioning the Compost Bin 11
Types of Compost Bins 12
What Will Rot 14
How to Make Good Compost 16
Harvesting the Compost 17
The Composting Creatures 18
Leafmould 21
Worm Composting 22
Composting in your School
Step-by-Step Guide to Composting in Your School 24
Case Studies 33
Classroom Activities
Table of Classroom Activities with Curriculum Links 36
1 Wendell the Wizard Worm Assembly
including follow up worksheets
2 School Compost Survey
3 How to Design a Poster
4 Writing a Newspaper Article
5 School Waste Audit
6 What can we Compost
7 Rotting Rates
8 The Compost Heap Food Chain
9 Get to know your Worms
10 Wendells Waste Watch
Extra Info
Frequently Asked Questions 70
Glossary 72
Equipment List 73
Contacts, Resources and Suppliers 74
www.littlerotters.org.uk
This project is led by Groundwork Leicester
& Leicestershire, formerly known as
Environ, an independent charity and
member of the national federation of
Groundwork Trusts. Groundwork Leicester &
Leicestershire is committed to helping
communities become more sustainable
through joint environmental action.
Project funding is provided by the Community
Recycling and Economic Development
(CRED) Programme, managed by the Royal
Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) and nine
consortium partners will distribute 36.5
million of National Lottery Money to local
recycling, reuse and composting projects in
England before the end of 2007.
The Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1 June

2004 is distributing half of all National
Lottery good cause funding across the UK.
For more information and further copies of

this handbook please contact:
Parkfield
Western Park
Leicester LE3 6HX
Tel: 0116 222 0222
littlerotters@environ.org.uk
Date Published: December 2004. Reprint: March 2006

Publisher: Environ Trust Ltd, registered charity number 703009
Author: Nicola Blight. Amendments: Sara Smith
Welcome to the Little Rotters Composting Handbook, designed to be used in primary schools to inspire
teachers and other members of staff to start a Little Rotters Club and begin composting in school.
The aims of this handbook are to:
Provide teachers with practical information and advice which helps build the skills and
confidence needed to start composting in school.
Share effective ways to engage pupils in practical composting and start a Little Rotters Club.
Offer teaching resources designed to bring composting into the classroom. All the activities are
linked at Key Stage 2 level with the QCA (Quality and Curriculum Authority) schemes of work
and the National Curriculum.
Reduce the amount of compostable waste from schools going to landfill, therefore benefiting
the environment.
Provides an enjoyable framework for children to learn about composting.
The handbook is supported by The Little Rotters website www.littlerotters.org.uk, where you can
access downloadable information and resources. In the Kids Zone children can meet the composting
crew. Wendell the Wizard Worm, a distant cousin of The Great Harry Rotter will introduce you to the
creatures who live in the compost bin and how they all work together making compost.
Introduction
Most children find compost fascinating. What

may start as shrieks of yuck soon changes
to cool, can we do it again. They love seeing
one of natures miracles happening right in
front of their eyes.
Through a Little Rotters Club, children not
only learn about composting but also about
responsibility, teamwork, reliability, stamina
and communication skills.
They learn that composting is an important
part of the cycle of life without which life on
this planet would come to a stop and we
would be knee deep in rubbish.
Once the composting habit is learned at
school, pupils can carry this on at home.
Starting to compost, as well as helping the environment, could help your school get an
environmental award such as Eco-School or EMAS (EcoManagement Audit Scheme).
Introduction
Composting and decomposition

is a completely natural process,
which is happening all around us
everyday. Decay is often seen as a
negative process rather than a
thriving process of change, involving
millions of organisms busily
recycling organic matter, creating a
nutrient rich substance to
feed the cycle of growth.
Composting reduces the quantity of
waste being sent to landfill and
therefore helps towards achieving a
more sustainable system.
Developing a recycling and
composting ethos within children is
an important way of achieving
future sustainability.
Learning about composting and
waste can help deliver many parts
of the National Curriculum and can
also be integrated into a number of
QCA schemes of work. The topic
provides a context for pupils to acquire, develop and apply a broad range of knowledge,
understanding and skills about issues relating to their everyday lives. Studying composting can
also be linked into science, geography, citizenship, literacy and numeracy through topics like
recycling, ecology, food production and soil fertility.
Ultimately composting, like all sustainable waste management will become an

integral part of the school day and incorporated into the daily routine. The
Little Rotters Club, under the supervision of an adult, takes on responsibility for
composting in your school.
Introduction
What is the problem?
In the UK we create approximately half a tonne of waste per person every year. Currently, the majority
of this waste is sent to landfill, where it is buried and covered over. Landfill sites cause a number of
problems
They produce methane gas as the buried waste rots anerobically (without oxygen). Methane is a
greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming.
They produce leachate, a mixture of liquids from the buried waste dissolved in rain water as it
passes through the waste materials.
Waste buried in landfill sites it is lost from the system for good.
Landfill sites are a blot on the landscape and are filling up rapidly.
Currently, 430 Million tonnes are sent to landfill each year. At the current 3% increase in waste, the
quantities disposed of in landfill will have doubled by 2020. Composting is a key means of reducing
the volume of land filled waste.
In School
In the UK, a primary school of 200 pupils produces on average, three
tonnes of waste each year, which costs 300 - 1000 to dispose of.
Through a simple process of reducing, reusing and recycling in
schools, waste production can be reduced by 50%. In many schools,
up to 1/5 of school waste is food. Fruit, vegetable and uncooked
food waste can all be composted in a bin and there are alternative
means of composting cooked food waste from school canteens.
At Home Cans 2%
In the UK about 28 million tonnes of domestic waste is produced
each year. On average 32% of this waste is organic (has a plant
based origin), such as fruit and vegetable waste, tea bags and
garden waste.
If all households and schools start composting, as well as recycling other

materials, landfill waste can be reduced significantly
Introduction
Compost is a natural fertiliser that is easy to produce and

free. By making compost at school and at home, our
environment benefits in many ways including reducing
waste going to landfill sites and causing pollution.
Composting is the name for the process that creates
compost, a dark brown, soil-like material produced by the
decomposition or breakdown of organic waste through a
biological process involving some the smallest of living
creatures. What was once a pile of fruit and vegetable
scraps, grass clippings, weeds and leaves turns into rich
crumbly compost by the natural process of decay.
Compost can be used in the school grounds as a general fertiliser in many ways:
In hanging baskets, pots and planters
Dug it into the top 10cm of a vegetable bed in the spring
Added to the soil whilst planting trees and other plants
Spread onto the soil surface of flower and shrub borders
Introduction
Involving Key Stage One
Although the majority of this handbook is aimed at encouraging Key Stage 2 pupils to get involved with
composting, involving younger children is equally important and this section outlines some of the ways in
which this can be done.
Children find the idea of looking for creatures in the compost bin fascinating. To introduce composting, read
a story to the class. Once they have been introduced to the concept of composting, take them on a trip to
the compost bin. The class could draw pictures of the bin and these could be put up in the class and/or
one of then laminated and stuck on the bin.
Once the children know where the bin is, what goes in and what comes out, you can visit the bin to take a
sample of compost and look at some of the creatures that live in the bin. This is a very simple activity
requiring trays (to put compost in) gloves and magnifying glasses. The children should be encouraged to
look at the creatures and choose some to draw (highlight the importance of being gentle if handling small
creatures).
The final link in the chain is to show the children what compost can be used for. Once you have some
compost, collect it in a bucket. Get the children to put the compost in pots, then plant some seeds to grow
on the windowsill. If you do not have much space, you can use empty egg boxes filled with compost and
plant cress or with more space you can plant tomato seeds that are great to grow in larger pots.
Further information and activities for Key Stage 1 pupils are available on the website activity section.
This section provides teachers with practical information and advice which helps
build the skills and confidence needed to start composting.
Why Compost at School 10

Positioning the Compost Bin 11
Types of Compost Bins 12
What Will Rot 14
How to Make Good Compost 16
Harvesting the Compost 17
The Composting Creatures 18
Leafmould 21
Worm Composting 22
The Little Rotters Club was a high point of our OFSTED inspection
Science Co-ordinator at Herrick Primary
The position of your bin needs some consideration especially in school grounds.
A compost bin is best placed on bare soil or grass, so that worms can get in and moisture
can drain out.
Try to put the compost bin in a sunny spot, it will help speed up the process. However, it will still
work in the shade.
You will need easy access to the compost bin all year round, but stay away from the main
playing area.
During the summer months there may be some fruit flies or wasps, so keep it away from the
main school building and playing areas.
Bear in mind how many bins the school will need and allow enough space. If you have a plastic
bin you may need to peg it down to stop it getting blown away.
Plastic bins can be chained down to help prevent theft.
Attach the lid to the main body of the bin, using rope, to avoid it getting lost or being used as a
frisby.
If you only have a hard-standing area for your compost bin it will still work. However, you can take a few
precautions to avoid smelly liquid oozing out of the bottom:
1) Start with a good base of scrunched up cardboard
2) Introduce some micro organisms by adding a light sprinkling of soil or a spade full
of finished compost
3) Put in a balanced mix of wet and dry ingredients
There are many different types of compost bin available, all of which make equally good compost.
Making compost is more to do with the process and correct ingredients than the container. A compost
heap can vary from a pile in a corner covered with a sheet of black plastic, to purposefully designed
manufactured plastic bins. The type of bin you choose will depend on what is on offer locally or the
resources available. Before deciding on what type of bin to have, consider the following:
Does your local authority have an offer on compost bins at the moment?
Many provide them free to schools. Contact your local recycling officer at your local council to find out.
How much compostable waste will you generate? Think about:

How large your school is?
How many pupils receive free fruit and veg?
Who looks after the school grounds? If you

have external contractors they usually
remove all hedge cuttings and the grass
clippings on the field. If this is the case it is
best to continue this arrangement or you
may end up with more compostable
materials than you can deal with.
Do you have a school garden looked after by

the pupils that generates weeds and
other plant material that should be
composted?
Does the school have a handy source of wood and someone able to
construct a compost bin?
A school of 200 pupils can compost over one tonne in a school year. For this size school you will need
at least two compost bins. You could use the 3 Bin 3 Term Composting System explained later in this
section.
The composting bin is the most common type of system used, where all the green and brown waste is
put in a black plastic bin and the micro-organisms break it down to compost. However, there are a
number of systems available, which produce compost at different rates and require varying levels of
effort. Some of the systems deal with cooked food waste, whilst others do not. The system chosen
should be the one that is best adapted to the needs of your school.
Type What is involved Composting Attending

time time
Plastic Dalek Plastic compost bins come in a variety of shapes and sizes Medium Medium
bin depending on your needs. They are relatively cheap to buy
and are easy to move around. They are easy to assemble
and the whole bin can be lifted up to access the compost.
Open bin This is a series of bins generally made of wood, which are
system open to the elements. They may have lids or a piece of
carpet over the top. The idea is one bin is in use and when Slow Low
it becomes full, you move onto the next one. By the time
you have finished filling all the bins the initial bin contains
compost which is ready to use.
Tumbler type This bin is designed to be self-contained so that is can
bins easily be turned. The bin has a handle on the side that
enables the bin to be turned round. This helps get air Fast High
into the waste and speeds up the rate of breakdown.
Worm bins These are small compact systems that have several Medium High
layers. The top layer is where the food is added. High
quality compost is produced but the worm bin is high
maintenance as the worms need regular feeding and
the bin needs sorting out frequently.
Green cone The design consists of a lower basket installed below High Slow
ground and an inner and outer lidded plastic cone standing
about 70cm. The unit takes all putrescible food waste
including vegetable scraps, raw and cooked meat or fish,
bones, dairy products and other organic kitchen waste e.g.
tea bags. COMPOST is not produced and instead the
waste leaks into the surrounding ground.
If you are composting in school it is best to compost only uncooked fruit and
plant waste. Although you can put cooked food into wormeries this often
attracts flies and results in a bad smell.
All plant and animal based material will eventually decompose. However, when making compost in
schools it is best to leave out cooked foods as these can attract rats and flies as well as causing bad
odours.
Aim for a 50:50 mixture of:

BROWNS - dry fibrous material with a low water content, and
GREENS - soft, sappy materials with high water content.
Fresh green materials breakdown very quickly compared to woody brown materials that take much
longer. However, composting just greens creates a slimy mess and composting only browns will take a
very long time to decompose.
What can your school compost

The National School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme creates large
amounts of fruit and vegetable scraps. An average size school
creates over 25Kg of waste a week from these scraps.
The main challenge for a school is to source sufficient BROWN

materials to balance out the soft sappy GREENS with their high water
content. Composting fruit and vegetable scraps on their own will result
in a slimy mess that will take a long time to turn into usable compost.
Sources of BROWNS in school could be:
Paper hand towels
Shredded office paper
Junk mail and envelopes
Cardboard egg boxes, cereal boxes and toilet roll tubes
Scrunched up newspaper
Autumn leaves
When adding paper and cardboard to the compost heap, scrunch it

up as this holds pockets of air inside the compost heap.
If school dinners are prepared on your premises a lot of compostable
material is generated. You need to take this into account when
deciding on the type and number of bins your school needs.
School Dinners - It is important on Health & Safety grounds that no cooked or

processed foods (e.g bread) is put into the compost bin.
So exclude sandwiches and plate scrapings.
It is all in the mix, just like making a cake but easier. Here are some tips for success:
Add a mix of BROWNS and GREENS to your compost bin frequently, with an occasional stir
to add air. As the bin fills up it will start to compost, unlike a cake it will not rise it will shrink
in size.
Try to ensure that there is a good airflow through the heap, this can be done using a garden
fork to stir the heap up.
If it looks too dry, add more GREENS or sprinkle with water.
If it looks too wet, add more BROWNS like scrunched-up paper and cardboard and give the
heap a stir.
The composting process happens all year round, however it will slow down in colder months
and speed up again in spring and summer.
The Composting Process
Looks like dark brown soil that may still

have some bits of non-decomposed
materials such as twigs or eggshells.
The compost can still be used even if it
looks a bit wet, stringy or lumpy.
If you are using one compost bin, finished compost will accumulate at the bottom. To get to the finished
compost lift the whole compost bin off the heap, this is surprisingly easy to do and will not cause it to
collapse, as it is much like removing jelly from a mould. Reposition the compost bin, put the non-
decomposed material back in the bin leaving the finished compost in a pile ready to use. Any large
twigs can go back in to breakdown further.
3 Terms 3 Bins Composting System

The system below makes harvesting the compost easier and less messy. It avoids having finished
compost at the bottom of the bin and un-composted material at the top, as each bin is left for nearly a
year to compost down before it is emptied. Using one bin per term fits well in the school year.
Bin 1 is filled during the autumn term. After the Christmas holiday, even if it is not full, do not add to it,
just leave it to compost. This bin will not be used again until the autumn term of year 2, by then it will
contain finished compost and will need emptying first.
Bins 2 and 3 are treated similarly, but used in the spring and summer terms respectively.
If you have a large school you may need to incorporate extra bins into the system.
Caring for Composting Creatures

The key to composting is to understand that it is the
result of millions of different composting creatures
and micro-organisms that work to breakdown the
organic waste to make compost. If we provide them
with the right environment to thrive in, they can get
on with the job of making compost.
Like all living creatures they need - food, water, air and warmth.
Food comes from the materials that you put in your compost bin. A balanced diet of GREENS and
BROWNS is best.
Water comes from the soft sappy materials, the GREENS.
Air is provided by ingredients that have structure, with lots of gaps that hold the air - BROWNS.
Warmth comes from the sun, (also the activity of the micro organisms can create heat).
The Compost Heap Food Chain

A compost heap is full of life and activity, forming complex food chains. There are millions of organisms
living in a compost heap, working in many different ways, but all contributing to the decomposition
process to breakdown our fruit and vegetable scraps and garden waste, creating rich compost.
Primary Consumers - organisms that feed off organic waste

Bacteria (bak TEER ee - ah)
One of the smallest living organisms and the most numerous in the compost
heap. Bacteria are responsible for most of the decomposition.
Fungi (fun guy)

Fungi are the second most efficient composting organisms, after bacteria.
Compost fungi grow as grey or white fuzzy colonies on the compost surface.
Millipedes
Millipedes are slower than centipedes. They have two pairs of legs on each
segment and feed mainly on soft decaying plant tissue. Millipedes unlike
centipedes roll up into a ball when they are in danger.
Fruit flies
Fruit flies are part of the composting process, feeding on the fruit acids. They can
appear in a cloud of flies when the compost bin lid is removed.
Red worms or Brandling worms

Worms are among the larger composting organisms, constantly tunnelling and
feeding on decaying organic matter. Their tunnelling helps air and water get into
the compost heap.
Slugs and snails
Slugs and snails are helpful in the compost bin, feeding on decaying vegetation.
The compost bin offers plenty of food in a safe environment.
Secondary Consumers - organisms that eat primary consumers

Mites
Mites all have eight legs. Some scavenge on leaves and rotten wood, some eat
fungi and others are predators feeding on other mites, nematodes, springtails
and insect larvae.
Springtails
Springtails are small wingless insects that jump when disturbed, they have a
small spring-like structure under the belly that catapults them into the air.
Springtails feed on fungi.
Nematodes
Nematodes are tiny, transparent microscopic worms, which under a magnifying
lens resemble fine human hair. It has been estimated that a rotting apple
contains 90,000. Nematodes feed on bacteria and fungi.
Ants
Ants feast on fungi, seeds, and small insects. They benefit the compost heap by
adding air. Ants will only stay in a compost heap if it is relatively cool and dry, lots
of ants may indicate that the heap is too dry.
Tertiary Consumers - organisms that eat secondary consumers

Beetles
Beetles play an important part in the compost heap food web feeding on insects.
Centipedes
A Centipedes body has 15 or more segments with one pair of legs on each
segment. They are fast moving and found mostly in the top few inches of the
compost heap. They eat small red worms, insect larvae, newly hatched
earthworms, and spiders.
See The Compost Heap Food Chain classroom activity in Section Three of
this handbook.
Leafmould is a rich dark brown crumbly material made through the decomposition of autumn leaves, a
natural process which happens on woodland floors everywhere. It is a slower process than composting
other organic waste, as leaves are mainly broken down by slow acting fungi, rather than the quicker
acting bacteria responsible for composting other materials.
If you have lots of trees in your school grounds then you have an excellent opportunity to make
leafmould. Whereas small amounts of leaves can be added to your compost bin to balance out the fruit
and vegetable scraps.
Which leaves to use

Use only autumn leaves from deciduous trees, which are
brown and have fallen to the ground. Do not use evergreen
leaves such as holly, conifers, laurel or leylandii.
How to make leafmould
1. Collect the autumn leaves once they have fallen.
Different types of leaves can be mixed together.
2. If the leaves are dry add a little water to help them rot.
3. Put the leaves in a suitable container (see below) and
firm them down. There is no need to cover
the container.
4. The leaves are slow to rot and will take up to two years
to breakdown.
5. After two years the leafmould is ready for use.
What Type of Container
No great expense is required as a leafmould bin is very easy to make. The quantity of leaves you have
will determine the type of bin.
Black plastic bag Wire mesh bin

Fill a black plastic bag Make a simple container
with damp leaves,make from plastic or wire
some holes in the bag netting with a few
with a fork and tie loosely. supporting stakes. Adjust
the size to suit your
requirements.
Leafmould can be used in the same way as compost and is actually better
than compost for seed sowing.
The difference between a compost bin and a

wormery is that a wormery is a sealed unit into
which worms are added, in a compost bin they
enter naturally.
Composting with worms is great fun and an
excellent visual way for children to see the
decomposition process in action. Worms are
popular with children who find them really
interesting. They are a good way of teaching
respect for other creatures and offer the
opportunity to handle and care for them.
Health and Safety

The risks are minimal. Despite involving millions of bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms very few
are harmful to humans. During the pilot project there were never any incidents and the fun far out
weighed any risk.
Here are a few simple precautions:
Always wear gloves when handling compost or doing any other gardening work.
Cuts and broken skin should be kept covered.
Wash hands well with soap and running water after handling compost or waste materials.
Ensure that children with asthma and other breathing or immune deficiency problems do not go
near the compost heap when it is being turned or forked through. Fungal spores are released
which may cause a reaction in susceptible people.
Children with up-to-date anti-tetanus vaccinations have greater protection.
Only put materials of plant origin in the compost heap. Keep out any food that has been
processed e.g. cheese, meat and bread.
Only put manure from vegetarian pets (e.g. rabbits, hamsters or guinea pigs) in the compost
heap. Cat and dog manure can contain harmful human pathogens, so best avoided.
Look out for the Wash Hands symbol which

indicates when precautions should be taken
This section contains ten easy to follow steps, sharing effective ways to engage
pupils in practical composting and start a Little Rotters Club.
Step-by-Step Guide to Composting in Your School 24

Case Studies 33
1
Key Member of Staff
7 7
10
Monitoring and
Keeping Momentum
11
Make the most of
your compost
Step 1 - Key Member of Staff

Decide who will be the key member of staff responsible for the project. They really need to be involved
in everyday school life and have regular contact with the children. This could be the Science
Coordinator, the person responsible for the Schools Council or Eco Club or a teaching assistant. While
extra support from the premises officer or willing parent is useful, they are not always in the best
position to be solely responsible for feeding back to the rest of the school or coordinating the Little
Rotters.
Step 2 - Talk to Staff

a) Bring up the idea of starting the Little Rotters Club at the next staff meeting. Use the Why Compost
in School flow diagram in Section One to assist you. The Frequently Asked Questions in Section
Four should help answer any queries.
b) Aim to enlist the help of at least one other member of staff, particularly if it is a large school or has
a split site.
c) Remember to inform teachers of the classroom activities in the handbook and on the website, give
each teacher a photocopy of the table of resources and let them know where the handbook is kept.
Step 3 - Develop the Little Rotters Club

The Little Rotters Club involves a group of children who
take on the responsibility (under supervision of an
adult) for composting in your school. They will have
daily tasks and enjoy having an important role. Try to
give the Little Rotters ownership of the composting
scheme, as they will take their task more seriously, earn
respect from the rest of the school and it will not rely on
large input from the key member of staff.
Through the Little Rotters Club, children not only learn
about composting but also about responsibility,
teamwork, reliability, stamina and communication skills.
The main tasks of the Little Rotters are to:

1. Check that everyone in the school is putting the correct items in the collection bins.
2. Empty the collection bins positioned around the school into the compost bin,on a rota basis.
3. Make sure non-compostable items do not go into the compost bin.
4. Monitor the compost bin, see How to Make Good Compost in Section One.
If it looks too dry, add more GREENS or sprinkle with water.
If it looks too wet, add more BROWNS like scrunched-up paper and give the heap a stir.
5. As a team, harvest the compost.
6. Measure the amount of waste not going to landfill.
Different types of Little Rotters Clubs

How you set up a Little Rotters Club will depend on your school. The 10 schools that took part in the
pilot projects used a variety of ways. Here are some examples of Little Rotters Clubs, with advantages
and disadvantages. For more information see the case studies later in this section.
Types of Groups Advantages Disadvantages
or
Each club benefits from having some older, more reliable members. Expect
some children to drop out and new members to want to start Think ahead of
how the club will develop from year to year.
Step 4 - Equipment
Here is a list of what you will need to start composting. For up to date
information on where you can buy equipment visit www.littlerotters.org.uk.
Compost bin - See Types of Compost Bins in Section One to help you
decide on the best bin for your school.
Collection bins - To be placed around the school. The number you have will
depend on your school. Avoid having too many, involving more work
emptying them.
The bins need to be:
Strong and able to withstand being knocked about.
The size of a bucket, any bigger and they may become too heavy
to empty.
Have a good carrying handle.
A lid is useful, it will keep flies and rain out, it should be attached to
avoid getting lost.
Easily identifiable e.g. all the same colour with labels.
Ideally made from recycled plastic.
Protective gloves - these can be sourced through the schools supplies
catalogue. 280
300 0
20
40
260 60
Garden forks - available in a junior size. 240 80
220 100
Hand forks and trowels. 200

180 140
120
160
Wheelbarrow - useful but not essential.

Tabards or overalls to protect clothes -The Little Rotters Club logo is
available on the website if you would like to personalise the tabards.
Scales - to monitor the amount of waste going into the compost bin, spring
scales are best.
Step 5 - Introducing composting to the school

It is important that the whole school understands why they are starting to compost, how this will happen
and what changes in their habits will need to be made. Getting them involved will give ownership and
develop respect for the Little Rotters.
1. Put up a poster on the school notice board -
use the back of our publicity leaflet or print
one off from www.littlerotters.org.uk.
2. Tell the Wendell the Wizard Worm story during
a school assembly (see Section three).
It is the best way to introduce the project to the
whole school. Remember to distribute
the assembly follow up worksheets for
teachers to use with their class. This will help
to reinforce the message.
3. Have a competition to name the compost bin,
or for the best Wendell the Wizard Worm
story or picture.
4. Announce who will be in the Little Rotters Club.
Step 6 - Little Rotters Club Meeting

During the first meetings you will be busy, the initial jobs are:
1. Deciding where to put the compost bin and collections bins.
2. Labelling the compost bin and
collection bins.
3. If you have run a competition to name
the bin, the Little Rotters could decide
on a winner.
4. Put up a display in the school, see
www.littlerotters.org.uk for ideas.
Remember to put up the names of all
the Little Rotters.
5. You could conduct a compost survey
of staff and pupils, use the survey
form in Section Three or design your
own. Do the survey before you start
composting and again after 6 months
and see the difference.
6. Doing a waste audit, see Schools Waste Audit in Section Three, before you start composting
will help emphasise the importance of what you are doing as it will show the amount of waste
that can be composted.
7. Design posters to go near the collection bins around the school. See How to Design a Poster
in Section Three.
Step 7 - Position the compost bin and collection bins

Compost bin
Decide with the involvement of the Little Rotters on the best place to put the compost bin. Refer to
Where to put our compost bin in the resources section of the website to help you with this. Make a
sign for the compost bin.
Collection bins
Decide with the Little Rotters where the collection bins should go. Here are some things to consider.
Do not have too many bins as it means there are more to be emptied, which could mean some
get forgotten.
Put the bins in places where they will be easily seen and most used.
Where are the most compostable items produced? You may need two bins in the KS1
playground or classrooms compared to only one in the KS2 areas.
Are there paper towels to be collected?
Remember the staff room and dinner hall.
Bins kept outside all night may be vandalised.
If the bins are to be stored inside, where is the best place for them? You could set up a Little
Rotters Station, where all the equipment could be stored.
The bins will need to be washed regularly, where can this be done?
Label the collection bins, this will help you keep track of them and is a good
exercise for the Little Rotters.
Step 8 - Set up a rota for emptying the collection bins

A rota is very important; it makes clear when the children have to perform their tasks. Enthusiasm may
well dwindle so if they only have tasks to do one week in every 4 or 5 the novelty factor will last longer.
Divide the Little Rotters into pairs or teams of more than two. They could have team names. Draw up
the rota making it clear which pair or team will be on duty when. If you have a mixed age group put
older children with younger ones.
Write a list of the bins that need emptying and what the jobs are, for example:
1. Morning break - Make sure all the bins are in place.
2. At the end of lunch break - Empty the bins into the compost bin, check for and remove
crisp packets and plastic bottles.
3. Put a layer of shredded newspaper on top of the newly added ingredients.
4. Every Friday wash the collection bins and tidy them away.
Give reward stickers to the Little Rotters once they have completed their tasks. Stickers are available
on the website.
Put the rota, list of jobs, and a list of the collection bin positions on display, where they can easily be
seen by all the Little Rotters, perhaps The Little Rotters Station or school notice board.
Give an older child the task of reminding the other Little Rotters when it is their turn and offer help if
necessary.
Step 9 - Get Composting

Now you have everything in place and can get composting. Remember to arrange monthly meetings to
iron out any problems. At this point the Little Rotters Club could deliver their own assembly to update
the rest of the school, let them know where the collections bins are and remind them what should be
put in them. See How to Make a Presentation. in Section Three.
Consider developing the 3 Term 3 Bin Composting System in Section One to make harvesting the
compost easier.
Step 10 - Monitoring and keeping momentum

Monitoring
Weighing the waste going into the compost bin is a good
numeracy exercise. It needs to be done daily to get
accurate figures. Use Wendells Waste Watch in
Section Three to help you. Report the amount back to
the school over a year - you will be surprised how much
waste has been diverted from landfill.
Keeping momentum
As with lots of projects the children are full of enthusiasm at the beginning when it is new. The real
challenge is keeping the momentum going once the novelty has worn off. If the Little Rotters have really
taken ownership of the project this may not be an issue. Here are some tips for you, as the key member
of staff.
Arranging regular meetings gives you the chance to assess how the composting system
is going and it will also give the children the opportunity to feedback their ideas.
During these meetings look inside the compost bin. If it appears too dry, add more
GREENS or sprinkle with water. If it looks too wet, add more BROWNS like scrunched-up
paper and introduce some air by stirring with a fork. Check the rota is up to date and
working well.
Offer a special reward to the child who has been helpful or worked particularly hard.
Give out certificates to all the Little Rotters during an assembly.
Set a school competition to design a poster or badge where the Little Rotters can
be the judges.
Go online at www.littlerotters.org.uk to meet Wendell the Wizard Worm and the Composting
Crew and do The Compost Challenge.
Write an article for the school newsletter or local newspaper about the Little Rotters Composting
Club. Download the worksheet Writing an Article for a Newsletter or Newspaper from the
website to help you.
Little Rotters could design a leaflet to be sent home for parents, to encourage them to start
composting.
The Little Rotters could run a lunchtime workshop for other children or parents to attend
and learn about composting.
A school of 200 pupils will produce about one tonne of compostable waste
each year.
Step 11 - Making the most of your compost

Using the compost produced is perhaps the most important step in
the process as it enables the chain of events to be completed. All
the work put in by pupils will result in some great compost being
produced and it is important to make the link between putting fruit
waste in a bin and getting compost out.
Compost is ready to use when you can no longer identify the pieces
of waste you put into the bin to compost and it looks dark and
crumbly. The compost should be worm free as worms are generally
only present in the top layer where the food is.
The compost bin can be lifted up leaving the pile of compost. After
removing the top section that is still rotting down, you will be left with
a pile of compost to use.
Uses of compost
Once you have successfully produced your compost, there are a
number of uses for it:
1. Use the compost to create a school garden. You can dig the
compost into the soil before planting. This helps to increase
fertility and will give you healthier plants.
If you already have a school garden you can use the compost as
a mulch to put on the surface of existing areas. Mulch is
compost that is not quite ready to use as compost and it still has
some larger pieces in it. The bonus of using mulch is that you
can use it sooner than you can use compost as the final
breakdown occurs on the ground surface.
2. Use the compost to fill some pots on the windowsill or outside on

the playground.
You can produce an ideal mixture for filling pots by mixing around
30% compost with 70% soil. You can also top up existing
containers with compost. Your pots could form the basis of
observing, recording and experimental work.
3. Making and filling window boxes with compost, can be a good

idea if you have a lack of space. You could make the window
boxes or buy them and use your compost to fill them.
We feel important as we are looking after the environment and also enjoy
the responsibility
Thringstone Primary School

Thringstone Primary School is a village school of approximately 170 pupils. The school is new to
composting and is using Little Rotters as an opportunity to embark on a pupil-led environmental project.
At the start of the project it is anticipated the majority of compostable waste will come from left over
break-time fruit from the free school fruit scheme. An additional source of compostable waste will come
from autumn leaves on the school grounds.
The Little Rotters Club currently consists of 12 children from Year 1 to Year 6. These are children who
came forward after an initial assembly with Wendell the Wizard Worm to launch the project in school.
The children will rotate on a half-termly basis to ensure as many children as possible have the
opportunity to take part.
In setting up the club, the first step was to complete a school waste audit, to establish how much waste
the school could potentially compost. The audit showed that half of the weight of waste produced
every day could be composted. Undertaking an initial waste audit demonstrates to the group the
difference they can make through composting.
The school started off with a 800 Litre compost bin and seven smaller collection caddies. The children
chose where to put the main compost bin and with adult support constructed the bin. They are now
regularly checking the compost bin to ensure the correct waste is added. The collection caddies are
sited round the school in places where compostable material is likely to be produced - in the main
corridor, playground and the hall for collecting lunchtime fruit and also the staffroom. The children
empty the caddies everyday after lunch on a rota basis. There are five groups of 2-3 children (mixed
age) with each assigned a different day of the week to be on duty.
The children are now in the process of drawing posters, to advertise the
scheme around school and communicate what should be put in the
collection caddies.
33

Herrick Primary is a city school in Leicester with nearly 350 pupils. They decided that 12 pupils from
the two year 6 classes would form the Little Rotters Club, coordinated by a year 6 teacher who is also
the schools science coordinator. The Little Rotters started by doing a school waste audit to help identify
how much compostable waste there was and where it came from.
The caterers are contracted to dispose of their waste as are the gardening contractors, so the majority
of the compostable waste was from the pupils fruit scraps, paper towels used throughout the school,
teabags and other bits from the staff room and plant remains from their two courtyard gardens.
The school used a plastic compost bin, as it was considered tidier and easily available and quick to
install. It was positioned on one of the beds in a courtyard garden. The collection bins were put in the
playgrounds where the fruit is eaten and one in each classroom for the collection of paper towels. The
12 Little Rotters were split into two teams, each team emptying the bins every other week. They have
quite a lot of bins to empty but between them this took less than10 minutes and was carried out during
class time at the end of the day. The Little Rotters were easily identifiable by the wearing of green bibs
and gloves as they go about their duties.
We feel important as we are looking after the environment and also enjoy
the responsibility
This section offers teaching resources designed to bring composting into the
classroom. All the activities are linked at Key Stage 2 level with the QCA (Quality
and Curriculum Authority) schemes of work and the National Curriculum. There
is a quick reference table with a brief description of the activities at the beginning
of the section to help you identify the links.
For more downloadable activities and game visit www.littlerotters.org.uk.
Table of Classroom Activities with Curriculum Links 36

1 Wendell the Wizard Worm Assembly
(including follow up worksheets)
2 School Compost Survey
3 How to Design a Poster
4 Writing a Newspaper Article
5 School Waste Audit
6 What can we Compost
7 Rotting Rates
8 The Compost Heap Food Chain
9 Get to know your Worms
10 Wendells Waste Watch
Activity Number
Subject Description QCA National Curriculum Cross Curricular
and Title
Teachers Notes
Activity Number
Subject Description QCA National Curriculum Cross Curricular
and Title
Teachers Notes
Teachers Notes
Background Information
An assembly is a good way to introduce a
project or topic to the whole school. This
story not only introduces composting but
also how the Little Rotters Club will work
and what their tasks will be.
Wendell the Wizard Worm has been
created especially to help schools
introduce their pupils to the wonderful
world of composting in a fun and inspiring
way.
The story can also be photocopied and
made into a book with your own pictures, to
read in small group sessions.
Teaching Activity
1. To introduce the assembly, find out how many children already know what compost is. Talk about
why it is important to make compost and how it will benefit the school. Use the simple Why Compost
at School diagram in Section One to help you.
2. If you already have the compost bin and collection bins use them as props, emphasise that these
are the actual bins that will be used. Other props of compostable and non-compostable items will
also help the childrens understanding.
3. Use the OHTs which you can print off from the website to illustrate the story.
4. At the end of the story find out how much they remember. Hold up different items that were in the
story, ask if it can be composted or not?
5. Find out if any of the children compost at home. What does their compost bin look like? Have they
seen any worms inside? You could ask them to describe what it looks like inside.
6. Finish with a recap on the importance of composting, again using the Why Compost at School
diagram.
7. Announce who will be in the Little Rotters Club if you have already decided.
Remember to distribute the assemblys follow up worksheet to teachers, for

them to use with their class afterwards. This will help to reinforce the
message.
by Nicola Blight
Jess goes to a school not very far from here. Every morning after break she is
asked by her teacher to empty a small green plastic bin of rubbish into a much
bigger green plastic bin, on the edge of the school field by the hedge. She is not
sure why she does it, but she always does what her teacher tells her!
One day, when she was emptying her small green plastic bin into the big green
plastic bin she noticed a worm eating an apple core. Jess decided to take a closer
look.
Hello, whats on the menu today?

Jess looked around to see who it was. But there was no one there.
Heellooo
Jess still couldnt see anyone.
It is me, down here, on the apple core.
Jess looked into the big green bin and saw where the voice was coming from. It
was coming from the worm sitting on the apple core.
I have never heard a worm talk before, said a very surprised Jess.
Ah said the worm I am no ordinary worm. I am Wendell the Wizard
Worm a distant cousin of The Great Harry Rotter, and I live in this
compost bin.
Compost bin? asked Jess What is compost?
Everyday you empty your small green plastic bin in
here and you dont know what compost is?
Wendell was almost annoyed.
So Wendell explained to Jess what compost is.
It is a lovely rich brown soil-like material which works wonders feeding

the flowers and vegetables in your garden.
But, I dont put that in your compost bin, said Jess I put the schools
fruit and vegetable scraps in there.
Thats true, Wendell said, but then I am a wizard worm and what do
wizards do? Yes, MAGIC.
Magic, I believe in magic, tell me about it?Jess at this point completely
forgot that she was talking to a worm and normally worms dont talk.
Wendell told Jess about the other wonderworkers in his compost bin.
There are millions of minute microbes in here. Some of these
creatures are so small you cant see them. These are the invisibles
and include the bacteria whose bewitching ways feed on other little
creatures in the process of breaking down your orange peelings. The
fungi use their trickery and spread their spellbinding fibrous strands
as they feed on the rotting bits of plants.
So if there are invisibles are there visibles, ones you can see?
asked Jess.
Mike & The Microbes
Oh yes Jess, you are catching on quick.
Look over there its Sid the Slobbering Slug
sucking the last juices out of that apple
core.There behind the banana skin the
mysterious mites and Clair the Clever
Centipede scamper around cleaning up after
Sid the Slobbering Slug
the slobbering slugs.
All this activity is part of the decomposing process, where all materials
that once lived rot down to make compost.
So Wendell, what do worms do?
Jess asked her new friend.
Ah, I was just getting to that. We are the biggest and the best.
Worms wave their magic wand and cast spells that turn your fruit and
vegetables scraps into compostwell actually, said Wendell I will let
you into a secret, what we really do is eat it.
I wonder what Wendells favourite food is, Jess thought to herself. She had an
idea.
See you tomorrow Wendell, said Jess as
she headed back to the classroom. She was
already late.
Clair the Clever Centipede
The following day Jess returned to the compost bin. This time she had brought
some of her friends with her who all wanted to meet Wendell the Wizard Worm
and see the magic bin Jess had told them about. Jess knew it was a magic bin
because how ever many times she emptied the small green plastic bin into it,it
never seemed to get much fuller.
You see decomposing makes all our waste
smaller.
They knew worms liked their apple cores and other fruit
peelings, but worms must eat more than that.
Nina had brought some potato peelings and onion skins
from the kitchen.
Would Wendell and the other wrigglers like these?

Yes, we like any uncooked vegetable scraps said the worms as they
started to chomp.
Deevish had brought the used tea bags from the
staff room and some crushed eggshell.
I bet the worms wont eat these.
A
Oh yes we will said Wendell. TE
Chris and Charlie tried to put their empty cheese and onion crisp packets and
yoghurt cartons into the compost bin.
Oh no you dont, came a voice from within the
bin, worms wont eat plastic.
What about our coke cans? they asked
Wendell.
Take them to be recycled, we cant do anything with them here,
he replied.
Another of Jesss friends Darly helped look after the school garden. Could she
put her weeds and other bits of plants into the compost bin?
No problem with those, replied the worms altogether.
The last of Jesss friends Ellie brought with her some of the paper hand towels,
which they use in the classroom.
Paper is made from trees, I think Wendell and the other wrigglers will
eat these.
Well done, we like a nice balanced diet, this is something a bit drier
to balance out all the other wet stuff.
Thank you everyone we will all work our magic on this lot and see you
soon. said Wendell as he disappeared under the apple core.
Wendell the Wizard Worms reputation spread
throughout the school. Soon everyone, even the
teachers, were putting only tasty worm food in the
small green plastic bin which are then emptied into the
compost bin.
After several months they emptied the compost bin of
compost and spread this on their flowerbeds, hoping
to help make the flowers grow.
And do you know that year they grew the tallest
sunflowers and tastiest strawberries that anyone had
ever known.
Jess and her friends were responsible for emptying
the small bins into the compost bin and making sure
Wendell and all the microbes always had enough food.
They called themselves The Little Rotters Club. When they went to the compost
bin they listened out for Wendell, sometimes he stopped for a chat, other times
they only caught a glimpse of his pointy hat.
But do you know, every time they listened very carefully they could hear the
distant murmurings of the worms as they did their wonderwork, eating away and
making compost.
So next time you see a worm listen very carefully and you may just hear it talk.
Pupil Worksheet
Name:
The following week it was Chris and Charlies turn to empty the
small green bin into the big green compost bin. Write a short
story describing what happened when they met Wendell the
Wizard Worm.
It was raining as Chris and Charlie carried the small green plastic bin
to the edge of the field where the compost bin was....
Pupil Worksheet
Name:
Here are the answers, match them to the questions below.

The Little Rotters Club
In the compost bin
Bacteria and slugs
10 million (10,000,000)
Wendell the Wizard Worm
They eat it
Paper towels and newspaper
Empty the green plastic bin
To feed the flowers and vegetables
Questions
1. What did Jesss teacher ask her to do every day after break?
2. What is the name of the worm sitting on the apple core?
3. Where does he live?
4. Compost is a rich brown soil like material, how can this be used in the
garden?
5. Name two of the creatures that help make compost in the compost bin?
Pupil Worksheet
6. How many minute microbes can fit into a teaspoon?
7. How do worms really turn fruit and vegetable scraps into compost?
8. Worms like a balanced diet
are drier and balance out the water in the fruit.
9. What was the name of the composting club that Jess and her friends
set up?
10. What can be composted?
What can be composted?

List 4 things that worms List 4 things that worms
can eat cannot eat
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
Pupil Worksheet
Name:
Complete the survey below by ticking the box next to your

answer.
1. Do you know what composting is?

Yes No Not sure
2. Do you already make compost at home?

Yes No Not sure
3. What do you think can be put in the compost bin?

Fruit and vegetable scraps Yes No Not sure
Paper towels Yes No Not sure
Weeds and garden cuttings Yes No Not sure
Crisp packets Yes No Not sure
Plastic bags Yes No Not sure
Paper and cardboard Yes No Not sure
Tin cans Yes No Not sure
Grass clippings and leaves Yes No Not sure
4. Is making compost good for the environment?
Yes No Not sure
5. If we / Now we have a compost bin will you help the school to make compost?
Yes No Not sure
Pupil Worksheet
Name:
1.Have a look at other posters in school. List 4 things that

you like about them and 4 things that you dont.
4 things that you LIKE 4 things that you DONT LIKE

about the posters about the posters
2.Design a poster to tell everyone about the Little Rotters

Club.
3.Try out some of your ideas on the back of this sheet as rough
drawings before you start work on your poster.
Pupil Worksheet
Name:
This worksheet will help you to write an article about The Little
Rotters Club. You could use it in your school newsletter and/or
send it to a newspaper to tell people about your environmental
work.
Write your answers under the questions
My name is
THE
DAI
The name of my school is LY W
ORM
We have been composting in school for (answer in months or years)
We started off by setting up a club called
How many people are in this club? Are they all pupils or are there adults as
well? What years are the pupils from?
Where is your compost bin?
Pupil Worksheet
THE
What have you been collecting to put in the compost bin and make
compost?
DAI
LY W
ORM
Do you think starting a Little Rotters Club and making compost has been
good for your school? If yes, tell people why.
Do you have a quote about composting in your school? Newspapers like to

have a quote.
A quote is something that a person has said about your project. This
could be your Head, a pupil or teacher. Quotation marks are used to
show that the sentence is exactly as someone has said it. For example:
Chris said Composting has been really good for our school.
Now you have written some interesting points, think how you can link all you
answers together to turn it into an article for a newspaper or newsletter.
Write your article on a separate piece of paper.
Teachers Notes
What is waste and why is it a problem?
Geography
As a society we are currently producing more
QCA links
waste than ever before at home and at school. Unit 8 Improving the environment
The fact that we produce waste, and need to get Section 2 - What do we throw away in the
rid of it, is a concern for us all. classroom? How could it be reduced?
Learning Objectives. Children should learn -
When something is thrown away we lose the
to ask and respond to geographical
natural resources, the energy and the time
which has been used to make the product. The
questions.
to collect and record evidence to answer
vast majority of resources that we use in
manufacturing and providing services cannot questions.
how people affect the environment.
be replaced. The use of these resources cannot
go on indefinitely - they will run out. Learning Outcomes. Children -
become aware of the amount of waste in
When something is thrown away we are putting the classroom and how and why it should
pressure on the environment's ability to cope - in be reduced.
terms of the additional environmental impacts
express a view on environmental issues
associated with extracting the new resources,
and justify it.
manufacturing and distributing the goods, and in
terms of the environmental impacts associated
with getting rid of our rubbish into landfill.
When something is thrown away we are failing
to see it as a resource. It is well understood that
what is waste to one person may not be viewed
as waste by another. A good example is scrap
metal which has been recycled for many years.
Increasingly people are realising that it makes
economic as well as environmental sense to use
"waste" rather than just throw it away.
See Composting and the Environment in
Section One.
Purpose of the Waste Audit

This activity introduces children to the environmental issues of waste and the benefits of recycling,
especially composting.
Pupils discover how much waste the school produces in a day and how much of it could be composted.
Waste Audit Preparation

Gather together all the equipment Have a typical days rubbish ready. This should include:
Rubbish from all the litterbins inside the school.
Rubbish from all the litterbins in the playground (check for any broken glass).
Teachers Notes
Teaching activity rubbish sorting

1. Discuss with the children why recycling is important and what types of materials can be
recycled and how to go about it e.g. using bottle banks, newspaper collection, compost
heap, jumble sales and so on. Discuss where these are located.
2. Record the number of bin bags of rubbish the school throws away in one day.
3. Record the total weight of this rubbish.
4. Split the class into 3 groups. Each group will sort through one bin bag of rubbish. Each
group will need:
a floor covering a clip board
protective gloves waste record sheet
1 black bag of rubbish a pencil
5. Explain to the class the purpose of the exercise is to sort the black bag of rubbish into 3 different
categories recycle, landfill and compost and what can go into each. They will end up with 3
separate piles on their floor covering.
6. Ask each group to re-bag each category of waste into clear plastic bags. So instead of the one
black bag of rubbish they now have three bags of the different categories.
7. Ask each group to record the weight and volume of each category of their waste on the record
sheet provided. (The volume can be estimated in terms of 1/2 a black bag or 1/4 etc.)
8. At the end of the exercise the class will have recorded the different categories of waste from 3 bin
bags of school rubbish.
The Three Waste Categories

Recycle Landfill Compost
Plastic drinks bottles Plastic sweet wrappers All fruit and vegetable scraps
Classroom paper / Writing paper Yoghurt pots Paper towels
Aluminium drinks cans Other bits of plastic Tea bags, coffee grounds
Glass jars All cooked food Garden waste
Cardboard All dairy products Shredded newspaper
Newspaper / glossy magazines.
NB: Although yoghurt pots and other plastic items may have a recycling symbol on them. At the
moment limited facilities exist to recycle them.
Post waste sorting activity data handling

1. Using the data collected from the exercise calculate the average amount of
recycle, compost and landfill waste in a bin bag of school rubbish.
2. From this data calculate the amount of each waste type the school generates
- in a day - in a week - in a year.
3. Ask the children to produce a cumulative graph that show the weight of the
different waste categories throughout the week / year.
4. Discuss ways to separate the compost waste, so it can be collected and put into
the compost bin.
Pupil Worksheet
Group/Name:
Class:
What is the total number of bin bags of rubbish from the school in a day?
Waste
Category
Weight (grams)
Volume
List the different

materials
COMPOST
Weight (grams)
Volume
List the different

RECYCLE materials
Weight (grams)
Volume
List the different

materials
LANDFILL
Pupil Worksheet
Group/Name:
Class:
1. Calculate the average amount of waste in a bin bag
Waste Average in a bag

Bag 1 Bag 2 Bag 3 Total
Category (Total no. bags)
Compost
(grams)
Recycle
(grams)
Landfill
(grams)
Total
2. Calculate the total amount of waste from the school
Waste per day x 5 = waste per week

Waste per week x 10 = waste per school year
Waste Average in Waste per Waste per Waste per

category a bag day week year
Compost
(grams)
Recycle
(grams)
Landfill
(grams)
Total
Teachers Notes
Geography
When making compost in school it is important
that the correct items go into the compost bin in QCA links Year 4
order to create a good balance of ingredients Unit 8 Improving the environment
and avoid items that could cause a health and Section 2 - What do we throw away in the
safety problem in the future. classroom? How could it be reduced?
All the items in the first column of the table
below will break down easily and decompose to
Learning Outcome. Children should learn -
make compost. They all stem from basic organic to understand what items can be put into
matter that has not been processed / cooked. the compost bin.
The second column contains items that will
either not decompose or processed/cooked food
that will slow down the composting process and
could attract vermin.
Teaching Activity
1. Following on from the school waste audit, discuss with the class that making compost is a method
of recycling that can be done in school. It is a natural process. All organic waste will rot down to
make a brown soil like material, show an example.
2. Use the worksheet to reinforce what materials can be composted.
What can we compost?

Put it in - Composting Rubbish or Recycle
fruit scraps cheese

uncooked vegetable scraps sweet wrappers
paper towels- from classroom plastic drink bottles - recycle
egg shells fizzy drink cans - recycle
tea bags crisp packets
bits of cardboard - large cooked food
pieces need to be torn up bread
potato peelings yoghurt cartons - re-use
shredded newspaper milk cartons
meat scraps
dead flowers
writing paper - recycle
leaves
Pupil Worksheet
Name:
Below is a list of items.Which ones can we put into the

compost bin for worms to eat? Which ones will not compost?
List of items
fruit scraps uncooked vegetable scraps crisp packets

paper towels sweet wrappers cooked food
cheese shredded newspaper bread
dead flowers plastic drink bottles yoghurt cartons
leaves potato peelings milk cartons
fizzy drink cans egg shells meat scraps
bits of cardboard tea bags writing paper
Write each item in the correct column below.
Teachers Notes
Science
How long will it take for various items to
decompose? QCA links
The amount of time depends on the material it Unit 3C Characteristics of materials
is made from. Anything that was once living is Learning objectives. Children should learn-
called organic and will break down at a quicker that materials decompose at different
rate. Organic things can be used to make rates.
compost.
Learning Outcomes. Children
Non-organic materials such as plastic, tin and
to Identify how long it takes for different
glass take a lot longer and may not break down
in our lifetime. See the chart for decomposition material to decompose.
rates.
Teaching Activity
Ask pupils to estimate the amount of time it
would take for items to decompose. As you do
this, put either the actual items, a picture or a
label in the order in which they predict each
would decompose, on a time chart.
1. Collect together an example of materials
from the equipment list.
2. Label each item attach it to a piece of
string with the label at the other end.
3. Fill the plastic container half full with soil,
place all the items in the container and cover
them completely with soil (make sure the
labels are not buried). Put a lid on the
container.
4. Keep the soil moist. Dont let it dry out or
freeze.
5. Observe what happens to each item over a
4-week period.
6. Discuss why some things decompose
quicker than others.
This experiment will take 4 weeks to complete
Art Create a time chart display for the classroom.

Numeracy and ICT graphs and chart showing decomposition rates.
Pupil Worksheet
Can you guess how long a crisp packet, plastic carrier bag and a banana
skin would take to breakdown?
Make your own rotting rate chart based on your results.
Teachers Notes
A compost heap is full of life and activity,
forming a complex food chain. There are
Science
millions of organisms living in a compost heap, QCA links
working in many different ways, but all Unit 3C Characteristics of materials
contributing to the decomposition process to Learning objectives. Children should learn-
breakdown our fruit and vegetable scraps and that materials decompose at different
garden waste, creating rich compost. rates.
This activity helps demonstrate the activity Learning Outcomes. Children
inside a compost heap. to Identify how long it takes for different
For background information with full colour material to decompose.
pictures of each composting creature, including
the correct food chain, see Section One.
Teaching Activity
1. Explain what a food chain is and how a
compost heap is a habitat for lots of
creatures involving lots of food chains.
2. Split the class into groups of 4.
3. Give each group a blank food chain sheet
and a set of pictures.
4. Ask them to work out who eats who and stick
the pictures in the correct box on the blank
sheet.
5. Go through the answers with the whole class
giving each group two points for every
creature they put within the correct group.
6. Create a display showing the food chain inside the compost bin.
Pupil Worksheet
Names:
1. You will need a set of 12 composting creature pictures.

2. Decide who eats who and which group each creature belongs to.
3. Once you have decided stick the pictures down.
4. You will get 2 points for each creature in the correct group.
Teachers Notes
Worms spend their life digesting, grinding, and
excreting organic matter. Without the help of
Science
worms, every plant and animal that died and fell QCA links
to the ground would stay right where it fell. By Unit 4B Habitats
breaking down organic matter - like dead plants Section 2
and decaying animals worms create valuable Learning Objectives. Children should learn -
nutrients necessary for rich and fertile soil. that different animals are found in different
The worm poop or cast is richer in nutrients habitats.
and bacteria, than the surrounding soil. to make predictions of organisms that will
Worm activity also creates miles of tunnels, vital be found in a habitat.
for drainage and aeration in the soil, which is
Learning Outcomes. Children -
good for plant growth.
make and justify a prediction e.g. worms
The Earthworm - Lumricus terrestrisis is the
live under the soil because they dont like
most common of the 200 known species of
the light.
worm.
The Composting Worm - Eisenia foetida is a
different species to the earthworm, often called
by the common name brandling/ tiger/ red/ or
dendra worm. These worms can eat through the
greatest amount of organic matter, therefore
making them the most efficient composters of
all worms.
Worms are invertebrates. They have a long
cylindrical body divided into segments. The
grooves that extend around the body of the
worm show the arrangement of the segments.
Some species have a body composed of over
100 segments. The bump in the middle of the
worm is the saddle or clitellum. This is only
present on adult worms and contains the gland
cells that secrete slimy mucus to form the
cocoon, which will hold the embryos.
Teaching Activity
1. Ask the children to predict where in the school grounds are the best places to find
worms - in the flowerbed, under trees, in the grass or in the compost bin?
2. Using the fork or spade go into the school grounds and collect some worms,
record how many worms were found in the different places.
3. Once you have collected the worms return to the classroom and split the class into pairs.
Give each pair a worm.
4. Hand out the following pupil worksheet.
Numeracy and ICT graphs and charts to show what location the most
worms were found.
Pupil Worksheet
Group/Name:
Care for your worm

Worms like to be damp so keep your
worm on a moist paper towel.
Do not harm your worm
1.How long is your worm?

Worms are difficult to measure, they can make themselves very long or
very short. Measure your worm at shortest and longest to find out the
average length.
Carefully use a pencil to guide your worm onto a straight

line on a paper towel and make a dot at the front and back
ends. Measure the distance between the dots.
Shortest length
Longest length
Average length
(shortest + longest 2 = average)
2. What happens to your worm in the light?

Shine a low power torch on the worm for 30 seconds.
What does the worm do?
Pupil Worksheet
3. Which is the worms head and which its tail?

Look at your worm using a magnifying glass.
Can you see:
The worms segments - a worm can have up to 100 segments.
The worms saddle it looks like a large segment, lighter in colour.
The worms head it is the end nearer the saddle.
The worms mouth it is on the head and has a protective flap
covering it.
The worms tail.
Draw your worm

Label the:
segments
saddle
head
mouth
tail
4. Bridging the gap.

Put two books on the table leaving a gap of 3cm between them, lay a paper
towel on each and sprinkle one with water so it is damp. Put the worm on
the dry sheet and watch it bridge the gap to get to the wet sheet.
5. Listening to worms.
Put a worm on a piece of moist paper towel and put your ear up close and
listen carefully to the worm moving. You will be able to hear the
scratching sound of the bristles underneath its body. Worms move by
squeezing and contracting their muscles, and have very tiny bristles on
their belly side that help them grip the surface they are moving on.
Pupil Worksheet
Interesting Worm Facts
1. Worms do not have eyes; they have light and touch sensitive
organs. Worms do not like light.
2. Worms breathe through their skin and therefore require

humid conditions to prevent drying out.
3. Every worm can have babies.
4. Worms lay cocoons. Each one contains between 3-5 babies.
5. Worms can live up to 10 years.
6. Some worms curl up and sleep in the summer when it is hot

and dry.
7. If a worm is cut in half, only the half with the saddle

will survive.
8. Composting worms can eat about half their body weight of

food every day.
9. Worm enemies are snakes, birds, moles, toads and even foxes.
Beetles, centipedes, leeches and slugs also feed on worms.
Pupil Worksheet
We need to find out how much waste is going into our

compost bin every week.
We can do this by weighing the collection bins before they are
emptied into the compost bin.
1. Weigh an empty collection bin and record how

heavy it is.
2. Use the weighing scales, weigh each collection bin
before it is emptied into the compost bin.
3. Subtract the weight of the collection bins to give
you the correct weight of compost waste.
4. Record the weights in grams in the records table.
5. Repeat this for at least 5 weeks to get an average.
Was
te W
atch
Rec
or d
Name:
The collection bin weighs grams (gms)
Use the table below to record the amount of compostable waste in gms
Pupil Worksheet
Week Number
Bin Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Total
E.g. playground 450 675 250 385 250 2010gms
Weekly total of all bins (gms)
Frequently Asked Questions 70
Glossary 72
Equipment List 73
Contacts, Resources and Suppliers 74
Where can I get a compost bin?
Contact the local recycling officer at your local council to see if they have any special offers on
compost bins or visit www.littlerotters.org.uk for a list of suppliers.
Will the compost bin get stolen?
It could be at risk, although none of the10 pilot schools had any stolen. Think carefully about
where you position it, try and put it out of sight e.g. an internal courtyard garden. One school
chained theirs to a post and attached the lid to the compost bin with rope.
Can we site the compost bin on a hard surface?
It is possible but you will need to take a few precautions to avoid a smelly liquid oozing out of the
bottom. Start with a good base of scrunched up cardboard, always put in a balanced mix of greens
and browns and introduce some composting creatures by adding a light sprinkling of soil or a
spade full of finished compost.
Why is my compost bin slimy and smelly?
Both of these problems are due to too many greens being added and not enough browns. Your
heap is composting anaerobically (without air) and producing methane, which is the smell you are
noticing. Add more browns and introduce some air by giving it a stir.
Shouldnt my compost heap heat up?
A compost heap does not need to get hot. The heat is caused by the activity of the micro-
organisms, when a compost bin is completely filled in one go and with a good balance of greens
and browns. This wont happen in most schools or households as we tend to add a bit each day.
The micro- organisms are still working but just slower and the compost will take a bit longer to make.
Why are there no worms in my compost bin?
Worms should naturally occur, as long as the compost bin is sitting on soil. If you want to get a head
start transfer some worms from an existing compost heap or buy some red worms from you local
fishing tackle shop. Worms will not live in a compost heap with too much fruit scraps, therefore be
sure to get a good mix of materials.
Why are there lots of little flies in the compost bin?
These are fruit flies which feed off the fruit acids. They are a harmless part of the composting
process, but can appear in large numbers during the summer months. The best way to discourage
them is to cover the newly added fruit and vegetable scraps with a layer of scrunched up
newspaper.
Do we need to worry about rats and mice?
These are not a common problem. Make sure no items from the Do not compost list Section One
such as bread, cooked food and dairy products are going into the compost bin. An extra precaution
is to line the base of the bin with fine wire mesh to stop them getting in from the bottom.
Can wasps be a problem?
Wasps will only be a problem in late summer when they want to feed of the sugar in the fruit. They
can be avoided in the same way as fruit lies by covering the newly added fruit and vegetable scraps
with a layer of torn up newspaper.
What about the ants in my compost heap?
Ants are one of the many creatures that contribute to the composting process, their tunnelling
helps to add air to the compost heap. However, their presence can indicate that the compost
heap is too dry so you may need to add some water.
The collection bins are attracting fruit flies and ants what can we do?
Wash the bins out regularly especially during the warmer months.
Can we put leaves into the compost bin?
Yes, but only in small quantities as they take a lot longer to breakdown. If you have large quantities
of leaves consider making leafmould. For details on making leafmould see Section One.
We do not have many brown materials to add to the compost bin what can
we do?
Have a look at What your school can compost in Section One, there is probably more
paper and card you can collect from the office or classrooms than you think. You could even
ask children to bring in egg boxes from home.
Can we compost all types of paper and card?
Yes, all types can be composted from cereal boxes and envelopes to junk mail and toilet roll tubes.
Remember to scrunch it up as this provides pockets of air inside the heap.
The school has a pet rabbit can we add its bedding to the compost bin?
Yes, any pet bedding from a herbivore can be added.
How long does it take to get compost?
In general can take 6 - 12 months to complete. The time is affected by a number of factors including
the outside temperature. During warmer months the process speeds up, slowing down again in
colder months. A compost bin started in spring will take less time than one started in the autumn.
The mix of ingredients is the other most important factor. Ideally you are looking for a 50:50
balance of greens and browns, see Section Two. If a compost heap has too many greens it will
be too wet and lack air for the composting process. If there are too many browns it will be too dry
and lack water for the composting process. In both cases decomposition will slow down.
How do I know if the compost is ready?
Finished compost will be found at the base of the heap. If you have a compost bin with a hatch, use
this to have a look. It will look like dark brown soil and maybe a bit wet and sticky and contain some
un-decomposed materials. Although it may not look like crumbly compost bought from a garden
centre it is ready to be harvested and used, see Section Two for details on harvesting. Any
materials that have not finished composting should be removed and returned to the bin for further
composting.
3Rs - short way of saying 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle',
Browns - compost materials that are usually dry and high in carbon e.g. paper towels and leaves.
Used to balance out soft, wet, nitrogen-rich compost materials.
Compost - a dark brown soil-like material created by the breakdown of biodegradable materials such
as garden and kitchen waste. It can be used to improve soil structure and nutrient levels without the
need for artificial fertilisers and peat-based composts. Other kinds of waste are said to be non-
biodegradable.
Compostables - organic material that will break down in a compost bin.
Composting - the biological process which results in compost.
Decay - to decompose, break down or rot.
Fertiliser - a man -made or natural substance used to add nutrients to the soil and improve plant
growth. Compost is one of the best natural fertilisers.
Global warming - the rise in temperature of the Earth's atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect.
Greens - compost materials that are usually wet and high in nitrogen e.g. grass cuttings and fruit
scraps.
Green waste - organic waste from the garden.
Greenhouse effect / climate change - the retention of the Sun's energy in the atmosphere due to
the build-up of greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Greenhouse gas - a gas that absorbs heat and therefore contributes to the warming of the Earth's
atmosphere, the 'greenhouse effect'.
Landfill - most rubbish collected from homes in the UK is buried in large holes in the ground, often
old quarriescalled landfill sites. Many of our current landfill sites are nearly full and we are rapidly
running out of suitable land to create more.
Methane - a gas given off by landfill sites and which is highly flammable and a major contributor to
the greenhouse effect.
Micro-organisms - organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Many of these are
responsible for the breakdown of our waste into compost e.g. bacteria and fungi.
Organic waste - waste derived from plants and animals.
Recycling - utilising things that have already been used, composting is a form of recycling.
Reduce - avoiding the creation of waste in the first place is even better than reusing or recycling. E.g.
buying items with less packaging and not replacing items until really necessary.
Resources - the things and materials obtained from the Earth. Resources can be classified in two
ways.
Renewable - those that can replace themselves over a fairly short time scale. Examples
include water in a reservoir or crops that grow from year to year.
Non-renewable - can either never be replaced or take a very long time to replace.
Examples include coal and oil.
Reuse - using something again, either for the same purpose or for something completely different.
Examples include returning milk bottles for refilling and repairing electrical goods when they go
wrong instead of throwing them away.
Waste - Anything that we think we no longer have a use for and so throw away.
Wormery - A container specially designed to enable worms to break down organic waste and convert
into compost and liquid fertiliser.
Waste minimisation - refers to the whole process of sending less waste to landfill but instead finding
ways to reduce, reuse or recycle it.
This handbook has been put together using the wealth
of information and experience gained through working
with a number of primary schools in Leicestershire.
During this time, a number of approaches were trialed,
involving pupils and teachers in setting up sustainable
Little Rotters Composting Clubs. A broad cross-section
of schools were selected aiming to be representative of
schools nationwide.
Thank you to the following schools for participating in

the project:
Ashby Hilltop
Broom Leys School
Donisthorpe Primary School
Dovelands Primary School
Dunton Bassett Primary School
Ellistown Community Primary
Great Bowden C of E Primary School
Griffydam Primary
The Grove Primary School
Heatherbrook Primary School
Highcliffe Primary School
Ibstock Junior School
Orchard Community Primary
Queniborough C of E Primary School
Saint Peters Catholic Primary School
Sir John Moore Primary School
Sparkenhoe Community Primary School
St John the Baptist Primary
Thringstone Primary
If you are thinking of setting up a Little Rotters Club at your school, the following table provides details
of where you can purchase equipment.
KIT Name and address of company Contact details
Compost bin Your Local Council may be participating in a Call the national helpline on
discounted purchasing scheme or provide compost 0845 600 0323 or email
bins free of charge info@recyclenow.com to find out how
choose a bin and where to order
Small kitchen Your Local Council may be participating in a Call the national helpline on
bins (Minimax 7 discounted purchasing scheme 0845 600 0323 or email
litre or 10 litre info@recyclenow.com to find out how
caddy) to order
Green Little Dragonfly Design Ltd, Dragonfly House, 3 St Tel (01480) 414 646
Rotter tabards Margaret's Way, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 6EB Fax (01480) 413 816
email sales@dragonflyhouse.co.uk
www.dragonflyhouse.co.uk
Children's Harrod UK Ltd, Tel 01502 505 300

gardening Pinbush Road Fax 01502 582 456
gloves Lowestoft email hort@harrod.uk.com
Suffolk www.harrodhorticultural.com
NR33 7NL
Disposable ESPO (via catalogue) Tel 0116 265 7905

latex gloves, Leicester Road email c.services@espo.org
Weeding fork Glenfield www.espocatalogue.org
Trowel Leicester
Fork LE3 8RT
Litter picker
Hanging Our Weigh UK Sales (only) 0151 727 6557

weighing scales 9 Thirlstane Street Enquiries 0151 727 0906
(3kg x 50g) Aigburth, Merseyside (Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm)
Liverpool, L17 9PD Fax 0151 727 0906
email mail@ourweigh.co.uk
Wendell Worm Limpet Labels (UK) Ltd, Russell House Tel 01978 664 411
bin and caddy Abbey Road North Fax 01978 661 662
stickers Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham email sales@limpetlabels.co.uk
North Wales
LL13 9RX
If you require any further information regarding the Little Rotter kits please contact
0116 222 0238 or e-mail littlerotters.org.uk
The following organisations can all provide information on composting in schools.
Eco-Schools The Organic Gardening Catalogue

ENCAMS Riverdene Business Park
Elizabeth House Molesey Road
The Pier Hersham
Wigan WN3 4EX Surrey KT12 4RG
Tel: 01942 612621 Tel: 0845 1301304
Fax: 01942 824778 Fax: 01932 252707
www.eco-schools.org.uk Email: enquires@chaseorganics.co.uk
Eco-Schools is a great way to make sustainable www.organiccatalog.com
development a part of the life and ethos of your
school. Designed to fit into the curriculum, it's an
award scheme that gets everyone in the school
Wiggly Wigglers
community involved in making the school Lower Blakemere Farm
environment better. Blakemere
Herefordshire HR2 9PX
The Composting Association Tel: 01981 500391
Avon House Fax: 01981 500108
Tithe Barn Road Email: wiggly@wigglywigglers.co.uk
Wellingborough www.wigglywigglers.co.uk
Northamptonshire NN8 1DH Supplier of wormeries and worms, the catalogue
Tel: 0870 160 3270 also has good information and advice.
Fax: 0870 160 3280
Email: membership@compost.org.uk Waste Watch
www.compost.org.uk 56 64 Leonard Street
The Composting Association promotes the London
sustainable management of biodegradable EC2A 4JX
resources. It actively promotes the use of biological Tel 020 7549 0300
treatment techniques and encourages good Fax 020 7549 0301
management practices throughout the industry. Email: info@wastewatch.org.uk
www.wastewatch.org.uk/education
Going Organic in Schools Waste Watch's education projects ensure that the
Duchy Originals Garden Organic for Schools message of waste reduction, reuse and recycling
reaches both students and teachers in effective,
Ryton Organic Gardens
interesting and innovative ways.
Coventry
Warks
CV8 3LG
Email: enquiry@schoolsorganic.net
www.gardenorganic.org.uk
A nationwide campaign which helps children grow
vegetables at school and learn more about their
food.
Other useful websites
Recycle More
www.recycle-more.co.uk
The one-stop recycling information centre. You will find help and advice on all aspects of recycling at home, at
school and in the workplace right here.
Recyclenow
www.recyclenow.com
A comprehensive site with information on recycling, buying recycled, events and ideas for home and school.
Recyclezone
www.recyclezone.org.uk
A website for schools, children and teachers that tells you what's what in the world of waste. Although this site
is called recyclezone, recycling is only one of the things we can do about waste.
Waste Point
www.wastepoint.co.uk
A website with is a comprehensive reference for recycling points throughout the UK. You can search by entering
you town or postcode.
Zerilink
www.zerilink.org.uk
Making Waste Work - A DIY toolkit for teachers.

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Little Rotters - Composting Handbook - 2nd Ed

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This handbook has been put together using the wealth

of information and experience gained through working

Thank you to the following schools for participating in

The Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1 June

For more information and further copies of

Date Published: December 2004. Reprint: March 2006

Most children find compost fascinating. What

Composting and decomposition

Ultimately composting, like all sustainable waste management will become an

What is the problem?

If all households and schools start composting, as well as recycling other

Compost is a natural fertiliser that is easy to produce and

In hanging baskets, pots and planters

Dug it into the top 10cm of a vegetable bed in the spring

Added to the soil whilst planting trees and other plants

Spread onto the soil surface of flower and shrub borders

Involving Key Stage One

Why Compost at School 10

How much compostable waste will you generate? Think about:

How many pupils receive free fruit and veg?

Who looks after the school grounds? If you

Do you have a school garden looked after by

Type What is involved Composting Attending

Aim for a 50:50 mixture of:

What can your school compost

The main challenge for a school is to source sufficient BROWN

Paper hand towels

Shredded office paper

Junk mail and envelopes

Cardboard egg boxes, cereal boxes and toilet roll tubes

When adding paper and cardboard to the compost heap, scrunch it

School Dinners - It is important on Health & Safety grounds that no cooked or

The Composting Process

Looks like dark brown soil that may still

3 Terms 3 Bins Composting System

Caring for Composting Creatures

The Compost Heap Food Chain

Primary Consumers - organisms that feed off organic waste

Fungi (fun guy)

Red worms or Brandling worms

Secondary Consumers - organisms that eat primary consumers

Tertiary Consumers - organisms that eat secondary consumers

Which leaves to use

Black plastic bag Wire mesh bin

The difference between a compost bin and a

Health and Safety

Look out for the Wash Hands symbol which

Step-by-Step Guide to Composting in Your School 24

Step 1 - Key Member of Staff

Step 2 - Talk to Staff

Step 3 - Develop the Little Rotters Club

The main tasks of the Little Rotters are to:

Different types of Little Rotters Clubs

Types of Groups Advantages Disadvantages

Garden forks - available in a junior size. 240 80

Hand forks and trowels. 200

Wheelbarrow - useful but not essential.

Step 5 - Introducing composting to the school

Step 6 - Little Rotters Club Meeting

Step 7 - Position the compost bin and collection bins

Step 8 - Set up a rota for emptying the collection bins

Step 9 - Get Composting

Step 10 - Monitoring and keeping momentum