SYDNEY: The Australian state of Victoria on Thursday announced a new investment to divert an extra 50,000 tonnes of food and garden waste from landfills each year, reported Xinhua.
With support from the federal government, the AUD$3.56 million (US$2.3 million) investment would allow a Melbourne-based waste management business to expand its infrastructure.
By adding 50,000 tonnes to its composting capacity, the recycling plant is expected to process 290,000 tonnes of waste per year.
According to the state government, five concrete containers would be developed to store and break down organic material, helping metropolitan Melbourne process more food and garden waste, instead of transporting them to regional facilities.
Under the project, food and garden waste will be turned into compost, creating high-grade soil blends for nurseries, landscape contractors and builders.
“In Australia, around 13 million tonnes of CO2 is created as a result of organic waste going to landfill,” said Australian Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek.
“The increased composting capability of this facility will help us reach our national target of halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030,” the minister added. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
