Project aim
 To
divert food and garden waste from the waste
stream in Tallaganda Shire and reduce the
amount of waste being received at landfill.
To educate the shire's community,
particularly local commercial food
operators, of the alternative uses and
associated benefits available for food and
garden waste.
Project methodology
- An education campaign was conducted
at the start of the project to make
residents aware of the potential for the
re-use of food and garden waste. The
campaign included the use of local media
sources such as the Tallaganda Times;
target audiences such as food shop
owners/operators; local school groups;
and other community groups.
- An area at Braidwood Tip was cleared
and landscaped, and a large worm farm
was constructed on-site. The initial
population of worms, some 500 kg, were
housed in four large beds. These beds
were constructed using the windrow
method to improve drainage of the beds.
- Food bins were provided to
interested commercial premises and
picked up regularly. The food waste was
then mulched and mixed with green waste,
cardboard, paper and screened biosolids
and placed on the worm farms.
Project outcomes
The Tallanganda Shire Council Worm Farm
project has resulted in the diversion of 167
cubic metres of food and green waste from
landfill at the Braidwood Waste Disposal
Depot over a nine month period. The project
has also heightened awareness of the public
of the need to reduce waste and of options
such as worm farming which are available to
achieve waste reduction.
The project has generated discussion in
local and government circles. This has
resulted in the dissemination of information
to professionals in the industry as well as
providing the opportunity to speak to a
variety of people involved in worm farming
and other waste reduction activities.
The project has been a success in raising
awareness and as an opportunity for
information exchange.
Key factors contributing to project
success
Extensive community involvement and
education was an integral part of the
project. The subsequent commitment of
commercial premises to be a part of the
project greatly contributed to the waste
reduction that was achieved.
Information material developed
- Final report
- Advertising flyer
- Video
- Newspaper articles
Related projects
-
97_016 - Green Waste Reprocessing in
Schools
-
97_071 - Home Worm Factory Trial
-
97_100 - Worm Waste? An Innovative
Approach to Greenwaste Processing
-
97_128 - Education in Domestic Waste
Reduction – a Demonstration Worm Farm
adn Composting Facility
-
97_195 - Worm Farm Development
-
97_205 - An On-site Organic Waste
Processing Unit for Commercial Food
Producers
-
98_031 - Waste Food Collection from
Restaurants Cafes and Supermarkets for
Processing in a Worm Farm
-
98_038 - Grass Roots Food and Green
Waste Avoidance Program
-
98_143 - Trial of an Industrial
Capacity Worm Bin
-
98_203 - BioGreen Castings –
Assessing the Merits of Vermiculture in
Biosolid Management
Contacts
Ms Carolyn Dews
Phone: (02) 4842 2225
Fax: (02) 4842 2669
Community Waste Reduction Grants
Co-ordinator
Environment Protection Authority
Phone: (02) 9995 5639
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/ |
