Gawler Street Food Waste
Gawler Street Food Waste Trial
The Gawler Street Food Waste Trial was a Council funded 6 month trial which investigated the feasibility of expanding the kerbside green organics service to food based businesses. As highlighted in the Mount Barker District Council’s Waste to Resources Management Plan, commercial general waste bins have been found to consist of approximately 60% food organics waste. When food organics waste is separated and disposed of into a green bin it significantly reduces costs to the community and the environment.
How did the trial work?
Council provided identified businesses along Gawler Street and surrounding areas with an additional 140L green waste bin. The additional bins were collected weekly by Solo Resource Recovery and their contents taken to Peats Soil in Langhorne Creek to be processed into nutrient-rich compost. The trial ran between 26 October 2021 and 26 April 2022.
The trial was free for businesses to participate and at the end of the 6 month trial, Council assessed the success of the project.
Key Outcomes:
- 4.5 tonnes of food (organic) waste diverted from landfill.
- Financial saving to council of $505 in reduced disposal charges to landfill.
- Environmental equivalent saving in greenhouse gasses of 1.125 tonnes of CO21.
- Recognition by participants of visual reduction in waste to landfill stream
- 80% of participating businesses who responded to the post-trial survey indicating the trial provided a benefit to their business.
- 9 out of 11 businesses and the library indicated they wish the service to continue beyond the pilot program.
- Good feedback for review on general waste management issues in the Mount Barker CBD.
Council are currently reviewing the feasibility of transitioning to a 3 bin service for commercial properties across the district.
