Organic Food recycling

The Mess Hall at Clayton Residential recycles it's organic food waste through K+S Environmental.  Food scraps are firstly placed in a maroon/burgundy bins clearly labled so as to avoid any cross contamination.

These bins are then transported by K+S to their composting facility as shown in the occupying pictures. The food scraps and other organic material are turned into high grade compost which is used in flower farms and market gardens.

Resource: K+S Environmental

What is contamination?

Contamination is material that affects the composting, handling process or final compost quality. Any material that is not compostable is contamination.

Materials that are particularly problematic for composting include:

• Plastics – all types
• Glass
• Cooking oil
• Metal, eg; cutlery

The ideal material is food preparation.

What are the benefits of food waste collection?

Composting food waste has the following benefits over sending the material to landfill:

• Reduce waste going to landfill – landfill pose detrimental impacts to the environment including leachate, which can find its way into groundwater systems. Less waste going to landfill will extend the life of existing landfills and reduce the number of landfills required;
• Reduce Greenhouse Gases – greenhouse gases are produced by materials (including organic waste) in landfill. Methane generated by land filling of organic waste is detrimental as a green house gas. The carbon dioxide from acerbic composting is considered to be part of the normal biogenic cycle;
• Improve the condition of soils – composted organic material can be returned to the environment to replenish soil organic matter