Having spearheaded the state in recycling services, South Australia’s Marion City Council’s green waste collection is now proving its value to one of the State’s major export industries.
Team leader Waste and Recycling Ken Sellar said as part of its integrated waste and recycling scheme Marion negotiated a contracting agreement with waste collection company Solo Waste to include a fortnightly collection of green waste. It also contracted Solo Waste to turn the green waste into marketable product.
Residents have been provided with 240 litre bins in which they can place garden cuttings for collection. Once collected it is transferred to local company Peats, Soils and Garden Supplies which converts the green waste into a range of products including compost, potting mix, soils and nitromulch, which is 100% composted mulch.
This latter product has proved a boon to the State’s major export industry, viticulture. Ken Seller said the nitromulch allows more acreage to be turned over to vineyards because the water saving benefits are substantial.
“With a saving of 70% on water usage, viticulturists are able to plant much more of their holdings,” he said. Ken said the collection of green waste is remarkably consistent. “There is little seasonal variation in the amount of waste collected enabling a constant supply to the recycling company,” he said.
For further information contact Ken Sellar, telephone (08) 8375 6633
