How Compost is Transforming Chamonix's Gardens
Feature on Ecotrivélo's composting initiative, which collected 79 tonnes of food waste in 2024. The organization produced 20 tonnes of mature compost available this spring for local gardeners.
At Alpine Property, we're proud to support initiatives that make a real difference to the environment we live and work in. Through our commitment to 1% for the Planet, we donate 1% of our turnover to environmental causes – helping to protect our precious surroundings.
Over the last three years, we've donated over 54,000€ to local organisations, including almost 7,000€ directly to Ecotrivélo.
As the snow gives way to blossoms in Chamonix, it's time to get your hands dirty – in the best way possible. Compost season has arrived, and thanks to the dedicated efforts of Ecotrivélo, there's never been a better time to enrich your soil and support a local eco-initiative that's changing the way we handle food waste.
From Waste to Wonder: The Journey of Chamonix's Compost
Since 2020, Ecotrivélo has been quietly revolutionising waste collection in the valley – by bicycle, no less! With two full-time employees and over 30 professional members, the team managed to collect a whopping 79 tonnes of food waste in 2024. That's 79 tonnes diverted from incineration – and cleaner air for everyone.
Collected scraps are turned into rich, nutritious compost at several sites, the main one nestled in Bois du Bouchet. Here, compost boxes sit alongside an experimental vegetable garden, creating a living lab where compost's power is put to the test.
Cuvée 2024: 20 Tonnes of Gardening Gold
After months of careful turning, testing, and maturation, 20 tonnes of mature compost are ready this spring. Analysed in a laboratory and bursting with nutrients, this black gold is an amendment – meaning it doesn't just feed your plants, it improves your soil long-term.
Meet the Compost Champions: Dan & Julie
Take Dan and Julie in Les Pélerins. These green-thumbed locals host five Ecotrivélo compost bins on their land and reap the rewards in their abundant kitchen garden. So convinced are they of its benefits, they've even been experimenting – growing potatoes in plastic tubs filled only with compost. Harvest time? Just tip the tub into a wheelbarrow and gather your crop. Genius.
No Garden? No Problem.
Compost isn't just for vegetable plots. Whether it's a lawn, flowerbed, or even balcony planters, compost can help any green space flourish. Its benefits are physical (improving soil structure), biological (stimulating microbial life), and chemical (balancing pH and feeding plants).
Get Involved
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious newcomer, there are plenty of ways to take part:
- Join Ecotrivélo: Become a member and support local composting initiatives.
- Get Your Hands on Compost: Email ecotrivelo@gmail.com or call 06 26 03 01 85 to find your nearest pickup point – or request a delivery by bike!