Marketing Compost (EAWAG) - The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Seeing is believing: Demonstrating your compost
Some compost makers have found demonstration to be the single-most effective
promotional tool as it dispels people’s doubts and convinces them to try
compost. Again, the demonstration concept needs to be adjusted to the target
group and should account for the fact that compost is a long-term fertiliser. The
following box presents a range of potential demonstration concepts:
Photograph: Waste Concern
Photograph: Infostelle Kompost, Lucerne
Demonstration site of Waste Concern,
Bangladesh
Waste Concern set up a small demonstration
site near their composting plant. Visitors
directly witness the effects of compost on
plants and soil. Additionally, the workers were
encouraged to set up a small nursery and use
the compost as potting material. Convinced
and skilled employees are a strong promotion
tool for compost use.
Additionally, Waste Concern offers free compost
samples to farmers and provides advice
on the use of compost. In return, farmers talk
with others about their positive experience
with compost.
Distributing seedlings grown on compost
The Infostelle Compost in Switzerland launched
a compost promotion campaign in several
small towns. A group of volunteers planted
seedlings in small pots using the compost produced
by the community composting sites.
The seedlings were given away for free during
an exhibition day at a market. The topic raised
the interest of passers-by who asked questions
on how compost is produced, its benefits
and where it can be purchased.
88 Marketing Compost—Key principles of promotion