garden food organics 1207 or fact sheet web
DESCRIPTION
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THEFACTSABOUT
The second largestsource of methane inAustralian landfills isfood organics.
56 litres ofwater issaved foreverykilogram offood that isrecovered.
About two thirdsof all waste sentto landfill inAustralia consistsof food organics.
Gases produced in landfillfrom garden and foodorganics continue to begenerated for at least15 to 30 years.
Compostingyour gardenand foodorganics andusing it onyour gardensignificantlyincreasesthe soil’sability toretainwater.
GARDENAND FOODORGANICSORGANIC WASTE INCLUDES ANY ANIMAL OR PLANT BASED MATERIAL ANDDEGRADABLE CARBON SUCH AS GARDEN ORGANICS, FOOD, TIMBER, PAPERAND CARDBOARD. WHEN SENT TO LANDFILL THE ORGANIC MATERIALUNDERGOES ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION, GENERATING A POTENTGREENHOUSE GAS, METHANE.
Mulched or compostedgarden and food organicsare a valuable nutrientdense material that canbe used to create andmaintain a healthygarden.
Organic materialsdecompose in landfillto form greenhousegases includingmethane, which hasa global warmingpotential 25 timeshigher than carbondioxide.
Temperaturesgenerated bythe compostingprocess destroyany pathogensand weedsin the rawmaterials.
WHAT HAPPENSTO ORGANICS?
THEFACTSABOUT
*Organic waste falls into twocategories for treatment, dependingon whether or not it contains foodwaste. Garden Organics often usesOpen Windrow Composting. In-Vessel composting is used fororganic material that includes food.
Sources: OzHarvest, Zero Waste, andThe Department of Sustainability,Environment, Water, Population andCommunities
COLLECTIONGarden and food organics are
collected from homes andbusinesses, and sent to anOrganic Resource Recovery
Facility.
COMPOSTINGMicro-organisms break down
the material and heat isgenerated, destroying weedsand pathogens. Temperaturescan range between 50˚C and
70˚C. Laboratory testing ensuresthat compost complies with
stringent standards.
GARDEN ANDFOOD ORGANICS
DECONTAMINATIONContaminants such as steel,
plastic, glass, bricks and generalwaste are manually removed.
RECYCLED ORGANICSThe final product is ready to beused in horticulture, agriculture,
landscaping, garden centres,rehabilitation and other end
markets, returning nutrients andessential minerals to the soiland improving plant growth.
June 2012
Printed on recycled paper using environmentally friendly soy-based inks
SCREENINGAND GRADING
Compost is screened intorequired sizes. Different grades
of compost are required fordifferent applications.
SHREDDING ANDSTACKING
The remaining organic materialis shredded into smaller pieces
and stacked in windrows.These are kept moist and
turned regularly over a periodof 16-20 weeks.