Hi everyone,

I'm doing a design research paper for university on indoor composting. As part of my research I've created a short 10 question survey to research public opinion. I would be very appreciative if as many people as possible could take 3 mins to fill out the survey so that my research has some added credibility!

For survey go here http://www.ai-design.com.au
...just fill out the form and hit submit...that easy!

Thanks for your time

Done and dusted. Good luck.

Also done.

Not sure how an indoor system would have advantages over outdoor composting unless you are in a unit and have pot plants. :)

Good luck.

No problem, I completed your survey.

Hello Greenthumb

Since I’m the original prophet of doom, I have refrained from completing your survey. For me, indoor composting has a distinct disadvantage since Australia continues with its prolific use of Endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide.

There are 8 registered Endosulfan pesticide products in Australia that are used on an extensive range of produce including cotton, cereals, oilseeds, fruit, vegetables and a range of other crops.

Over fifty five countries have banned the use of Endosulfan including several developing countries. Not so in the “clean and green lands” of Australia (and of course, the USA.)

The USEPA has advised that Endosulfan is an endocrine disruptor, contrary to the advice offered by our Australian governments. It is claimed that Endosulfan is oestrogenic and antiandrogenic in human cells, and causes breast cancer cells to grow. It also interferes with male hormones,causing chronic depression of testosterone.

http://www.dea.org.au/node/260

It is toxic to and suppresses the immune system, as well as promoting allergic responses. No doubt the recycling of the toxic, commercially grown fruit and vegetable peel would be considered for use in this compost.

Therefore, indoors or outdoors, one could also be recycling trace amounts of the bio-accumulative Endosulfan if one plans to use commercially grown, inorganic kitchen scraps.

Naturally, if one chooses not to use these kitchen scraps, they will ultimately end up in landfill anyway.

I offer this information in good faith – best wishes in your endeavours!

On reflection, perhaps it is not I who is the party pooper here but rather our slack regulators?:

http://ntn.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=95&Itemid=1

http://www.springerlink.com/content/w2k401x6p7888525/

That's very worrying, Dickie, thanks for this information. I didn't even realise that Australia was still using endosulfan.

If other countries have banned it they must be using something safer instead. Why is Australia not willing to use an alternative, too?

Hi Celivia

Signatory countries to the Stockholm Convention, earlier this decade, agreed to eliminate or phase out the "dirty dozen" of organochlorine chemicals. The bad boys - Australia and the US, sought and received exemptions for the nasty organochlorine chemical "Mirex" used for termites and on mango trees in Australia.

I believe our Australian regulators remain captured by the influential chemical manufacturers and for that reason, vigilance is required by consumers.

And this year, Bayer et al lost to the EU endosulfan ban appeal:

"A group of firms led by Bayer CropScience has lost a legal bid to overturn an EU ban on the pesticide endosulfan, reports ENDS Europe Daily. In the ruling on September 9, the European Court of Justice dismissed all arguments brought by the plaintiffs against the European Commission's December 2005 decision to end marketing of endosulfan.

"The firms had cited 'procedural flaws and unfairness of the evaluation procedure' among their reasons for challenging the decision." Endosulfan is a highly toxic nerve poison, one of the antiquated persistent organochlorine pesticides nominated for global elimination under the Stockholm Convention. It is currently under review by the U.S. EPA."

Australian pesticides taint NZ produce:

"In NZ, Steffan Browing of the Soil & Health Association said the discovery of Australian zucchinis bearing more than twice the Maximum Residue Level of pesticides shows voluntary labeling is not working. "These results support our call for mandatory labeling," he said. Australia's Green Party has submitted a petition with 39,000 names calling on Parliament to support mandatory labeling."

In the Philippines:

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/07032008/nation03.html

Apologies to greenthumb for remaining somewhat off topic. Hopefully he may consider an additional research paper - perhaps titled "The Poisoning of the Public Down Under?"

Thank you, Dickie, I'm really glad that I'm aware of these facts now.