Eggshells Transformed Into Organic Fertiliser Through Community-based Initiative
KOTA BHARU, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- What is typically discarded is now being given new value, as eggshells are turned into organic fertiliser through a recycling initiative that supports environmental sustainability while also serving as a platform for therapy, learning and community engagement.
At Min House Camp in Kubang Kerian here, the initiative brings together children with Down syndrome, university students and international volunteers in a nature-based learning setting. It demonstrates how small, simple ideas can create meaningful impact for both people and the environment.
Kelantan Down Syndrome Association president Wan Noriah Wan Ramli said the eggshell-based initiative is carried out at Min House Camp under the association, which is now in its 10th year of operation and registered with the Social Welfare Department.
Wan Noriah, who is also the owner of Min House Camp, said the programme received the Down Syndrome Empowerment Fund for 2026, with a key focus on producing organic fertiliser and compost using natural materials.
“Eggshells are one of the main materials used. They are often thrown away, yet their calcium content is highly beneficial for soil fertility and plant growth,” she told Bernama recently.
To support the programme, Min House Camp works with several schools, including SJKC Peir Chih and SK Kedai Piah, which collect and donate dried eggshells for composting activities.
Wan Noriah said the materials are used in activities with children with Down syndrome, not only to produce fertiliser but also to help develop fine motor skills through crushing and grinding the eggshells.
“This practice can easily be continued at home, as kitchen eggshells can be reused as fertiliser. It helps raise awareness about valuing resources that are often seen as waste,” she said.
She added that the programme is supported by students from higher learning institutions, including three students from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and two graduates from Politeknik Kota Bharu. They come from fields such as agriculture, environmental studies and tourism, and take turns providing community service at the site.
Wan Noriah said Min House Camp is also registered as an agro-tourism destination under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, adopting a ‘back to nature’ approach that uses only organic inputs without chemical fertilisers or substances.
To date, over 1,100 kilograms of eggshells have been collected from schools, private homes, restaurants and hotels. Most of the shells are dried before use.
“This initiative is not meant to generate profit, as we do not sell the crops or fertiliser. Instead, we practise knowledge and resource sharing to educate the community on cost savings, environmental care and harmonious living,” she said.
She added that through the Community Seed Resort Initiative, the sharing of organic seeds and recycling practices can help build a more resilient community that is less dependent on commercial resources.
Meanwhile, a volunteer from Morocco, Elias Azzakriti, 27, described his involvement as a new experience that broadened his understanding of environmental sustainability.
He said he was previously unaware that eggshells could be used as organic fertiliser, even though traditional lifestyles are practised in his country.
Another volunteer, Anas Zehti, 26, said the recycling process involves cutting eggshells into small pieces before mixing them into the soil to improve soil structure naturally. He also hopes to share this knowledge with communities in other countries.
-- BERNAMA
