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Waste management
Australia sends over 21 million tonnes of solid waste to landfill annually. Over 40%, 8.4 million tonnes, is composed of putrescible organic material, including green organic and food waste. This material places a significant burden on landfill sites. Organic waste is of low density, can take up double the volume of landfill as other waste and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Removing this material from the waste stream could reduce Australia's emissions by around 3%.
Around $250 million in government expenditure (mostly local government) can be saved by diverting organic material from the waste stream. Additionally there is the potential to generate upwards of 5000 jobs through organic waste diversion.
The horticulture industry is an intensive user of energy and materials, producing significant levels of waste. It exerts pressure on the environment through water usage, fertilisers and pesticides. The use of recycled organic material in the horticulture industry has the potential to reduce industry reliance on environmentally harmful inputs.
Modern agricultural techniques in Australia have depleted organic carbon levels in soil from an estimated 3% to less than 1%. Organic carbon in the soil enables soil biota to flourish, assisting the processes of nutrient flow, cation exchange, water and nutrient retention. Agronomists suggest that soils become markedly less stable when carbon is reduced to current levels, contributing to soil erosion, salinity and high levels of sodium. The problem of carbon depletion is worse in soils subject to intensive agriculture and horticulture.
Over four million tonnes of organic carbon could be made available for soil improvement in agriculture annually from recycled organic material. Returning this material to agricultural soils could significantly improve them. Work undertaken by CSIRO suggests that although organic carbon incorporated into soils will be volatilised over a number of years, it will initiate a cycle of carbon regeneration in soils to maintain stability and enhance productivity such that there would be a net reduction in greenhouse emissions as a result.
Horticultural field trials have demonstrated that applied recycled organic material can result in water savings in excess of 25%, reduced chemical and fertiliser inputs, reduced run-off and consequent soil erosion and waterway pollution, and increased plant vitality. It has been demonstrated that for every dollar spent on application of recycled organic material viticulturists can recoup up to $8.85 in some areas.
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has been working directly with the recycled organics industry to identify issues effecting the industry and assist in improving industry cohesion and its capacity to deliver products to those areas where it can exert the most beneficial environmental influence. Over $1.3 million of Natural Heritage Trust funds have been spent on projects towards this end.
Preliminary work initiated in 1999 included
Following on from this work, in 2000 DEH conducted an assessment of the organics recycling industry. The assessment found that there is a range of impediments restraining the industry from developing to the point where it is able to deal effectively with organic waste at the national level. These impediments are:
DEH developed the Recycled Organics Initiative as the Australian Government response to the difficulties experienced by the recycled organics sector. In April 2001 the Minister for the Environment and Heritage approved NHT funding of $880,000 for seven projects arising from the Initiative. This funding was matched by project proponents and partners.
The seven projects were:
These projects have been completed and have successfully raised the capacity and profile of the recycled organics industry nationally.
In 2003 further funds were committed for the establishment of a quarterly peer reviewed Journal of Recycled Organics. The first edition is expected in the first quarter of 2004.