Media Release
22 July 2013
Grants for waste contractors to boost commercial food waste
recycling
Zero Waste SA has announced funding for waste contractors which encourages
businesses to take-up food waste recycling.
Chief Executive Vaughan Levitzke says the Zero Waste SA grants program
promotes the collection of food waste (‘organics’) from South Australian businesses.
“Under the $340,000 program, an incentive of $30 a tonne is paid to waste
contractors that provide a commercial organics collection service to businesses”, he
says.
“The collected food waste is delivered to composters, such as the Jeffries Group and
Peats Soils and Garden Mulches, for processing into soil improvement products for
commercial and domestic use.
“The aim is to divert a minimum of 7,000 tonnes of commercial food waste into
composting rather than sending to landfill by April 30, 2015.
“There is broad community awareness that recycling organics is a great way to help
the environment through the popularity of household food scrap recycling programs.
“Composting reduces the amount of waste going to landfill, cutting down on
methane, a strong greenhouse gas and contributor to global warming.
“Compost is a valuable resource which creates healthy soils that use less water, less
fertiliser and fewer pesticides.
“Zero Waste SA will work with collection companies to develop educational
resources to support the take up of new organics recycling systems.”
Grant applications close on 9 August 2013. Interested waste contractors should visit
the Zero Waste SA website www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au (click on ‘Grants’) for more
information.