Ramadan Composting Success
Reflection by Madiha Abid, IMAN Atlanta. Photo by Ayesha Abid.
During Ramadan this year, IMAN Atlanta had its first ever composting initiative to reduce waste and promote sustainability. During Ramadan, we see a lot of food waste so this was the perfect time to launch such an initiative. While we faced some challenges in the beginning, we ultimately succeeded in making a positive impact.
In the first week, we encountered contamination in our compost bins, which was concerning given the financial consequences it could have. After communicating the importance of contamination-free compost to our team, we implemented measures to ensure proper sorting before pickup.
Throughout the month, we welcomed both familiar faces and new members to our weekly Ramadan Sparks and Iftar. During week two and week three, I made several announcements about our initiative, detailing what could and could not be composted. Despite my efforts, it was clear that not everyone was tuned in, as some attendees were still confused during our last event in week four.
To address this, I began standing at the end of the buffet line, personally asking each person if they were committed to helping with our compost initiative. While some were eager to participate, others were unfamiliar with composting, highlighting the need for more educational workshops in our communities around sustainability efforts and eco-friendly practices. Those who were excited and eager about having a "Green Ramadan" worked alongside our staff to ensure that other attendees were doing their best to separate compostable items from the trash. I appreciated these community members and their enthusiasm. I'm grateful to our staff who diligently monitored the compost bins and even went "dumpster diving" to ensure no contamination remained.
In the end, we successfully composted 43.7 pounds of waste, thanks in part to the grant provided by Georgia Interfaith Power & Light. This grant covered composting fees and allowed us to order compostable items like paper plates, cups, and utensils.
Fortunately, the number of attendees at our iftar didn't exceed the amount of supplies we ordered, ensuring we made it through the month of Ramadan. Despite the challenges, we're looking forward to continuing this initiative next year, building on what we've learned to make an even greater impact.
