Market development resources
A range of projects have been completed to assist in developing markets for compost products. Technical and market research studies and fact sheets are also available, see below:
Urban landscaping
Rehabilitation
Intensive agriculture
Extensive agriculture
Other
Projects and Initiatives
A range of education, research and market development projects and studies have been undertaken in the area of recycled organics.
A few of these initiatives are detailed below:
Short report: The benefits of using compost for mitigating climate change
This report summarises an extensive and detailed literature review of the benefits of using compost for mitigating climate change.
A key objective of this report is to summarise the scientific literature on research on the use of compost and related products in mitigating climate change. Compost and related products are processed from recycled organic materials such as garden organics, food organics, crop residues, biosolids and manures.
Diverting these materials from landfill reduces methane emissions. Applying the products leads to climate change benefits through carbon sequestration in soil, substitution of nitrogenous and other synthetic fertilisers and the flow-on effects of improved soil health and water holding capacity following their application.
Short report: The benefits of using compost for mitigating climate change (110171SRComCCmitc.pdf, 948KB)
For a copy of the Full Report, please email sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au
Recycled Organics Unit (ROU)
Established at the University of New South Wales, the Recycled Organics Unit, or ROU, opened in February 1999 as a comprehensive demonstration and prototype facility.
It is a centre accessible by all industry, government and the community and is set up to demonstrate best practice and innovative waste minimisation solutions involving the use of recycled organics.A needs analysis of the stakeholders was conducted, an organics information reference site set up at recycledorganics.com and a virtual library rolibrary.com, was launched in June, 2000.
The Unit fields many enquiries on composting and related issues and has conducted technical assessments of composting technologies and vermiculture technologies, as well as completing guidelines for commercial composting operators.
Tours and workshops are often conducted, visit recycledorganics.com to find out more.
Phylloxera-free Organics
This project focused on a scientific assessment of issues relating to compost production, transfer and use in relation to phylloxera transfer to viticulture.
The aim of the project was to alleviate fears that the use of compost can lead to the spread of phylloxera a root borne aptid that can devastate the viticulture industry.
Quality Recycled Organic Products
In conjunction with "Garden to Garden", an initiative of Waste Service NSW, a series of seminars were held for local government landscape architects, waste management and parks and gardens officers. The subject matter included recycled organics and the Australian Standards for composts, soil conditioners and mulch.
A project 'Healthy Parks and Gardens' followed. This project aimed to increase the level of knowledge and understanding of recycled organic product amongst local government purchasing and parks and gardens staff.
Peats Ridge demo farm
A vegetable and flower growing farm located at Peats Ridge developed a demonstration farm for the use of recycled organics in agriculture.
Australian Native Landscapes donated three hundred cubic metres of compost and a consortium of agricultural scientists, EA Systems, designed and documented the trial and results.
Contaminant reduction
A project to investigate the issue of contamination in collection, transfer and processing of garden organics was undertaken on behalf of Waste Service NSW.
This included a series of personal interviews with processors, along with inspections of transfer stations and landfills accepting garden organics.
Followup workshops on avoiding the use of contaminated organics for local government and collection contractors were also undertaken.
