Current activities
Improving organics recycling
A focus of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is to deliver projects to assist in the recovery and beneficial reuse of organic materials diverted from landfill in NSW.
Studies undertaken show the benefits of source-separated collection and processing of garden organics.
A Food Waste Action Plan is being developed to encourage food waste recycling from both municipal and commercial/industrial sources. A set of regional organics inventories has been established across NSW to encourage aggregation of materials and linkages between industry sectors to improve the potential for recycling organic materials in regional NSW.
Developing markets for compost
The rapid increases in both collection services and quantity reprocessed has led to ever-increasing pressures on markets for recycled organics. In response to this, a number of projects are being delivered to develop viable and sustainable markets for recycled organic products.
Working collaboratively with other NSW Government agencies, the EPA has:
brought about a change to Landcom's design guidelines promoting the use of compost
conducted a trial with the RTA on Windsor Road, Rouse Hill using composted mulch
trials and demonstration sites using recycled organic materials have been established in partnership with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority.
A long-term cost/benefit analysis of recycled organics use in agriculture, in partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, has progressed with research trials established in vegetable and wine grape production areas of NSW.
Three on-farm salinity trial sites have been established to evaluate the benefits of recycled organics in discharge (salt scald) areas.
Two roadside infrastructure trial sites have also been established to study the benefits of tree plantings using recycled organics to reduce maintenance costs of roads affected by saline groundwater.
Page last updated: 12 July 2012
