Organics processing facility to put waste to good use
27 August 2020
Work commences on the Northern Rivers’ largest composting plant
Work is commencing on a new $7 million organic processing facility on the Tweed which will turn green organic waste into useful compost, while reducing the amount of waste which goes to landfill.
The facility, to be constructed and operated by NSW organics recycling business Soilco Pty Ltd at the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre, represents a significant investment in waste reduction and management and will be the largest organic processing plant on the Northern Rivers.
Capable of dealing with nearly 21,000 tonnes of food and garden organics (FOGO) annually, the facility will complement Council’s green kerbside collection program.
Mayor of Tweed Councillor Katie Milne has welcomed the start of work on the organics processing facility and said it was a long-awaited and exciting step towards Council's long term 'zero waste' commitment.
"The introduction of the green organic bins has reduced household waste to landfill by approximately 20 per cent and this modern facility will play a key role in Council waste management plans for the next 50 years,” Councillor Milne said.
“This will be a win for the environment, not just by reducing the amount of green waste going to landfill but also turning it into a high quality compost product available locally for households, farmers, businesses, developers and for Council use in our parks.
“It will also help to reduce Council transport and logistics costs, streamline our services and create employment at a time when job creation and innovation is vital for the Tweed.”
The Tweed organics recycling facility will function as an enclosed composting facility which will also be environmentally sustainable with features such as a 99KW solar power system expected to offset 22 per cent of the facility's power consumption. Rainwater will be captured for processing operations and all wastewater generated in the processing of organics will be reused in the composting process.
Soilco General Manager Charlie Emery said collected FOGO was currently transferred to a facility outside the Tweed Shire.
“Since Council’s FOGO collections began, the reduction in organic waste to landfill shows that residents are actively embracing the process,” he said.
“We are also looking to work with local businesses and food producers, such as hotels and resorts in the area to help them better manage their green waste.
“Once the facility is up and running, Council will be able to process its own food and green waste, right next to the existing recycling and landfill centre.”
The facility, due to be operational by September 2021, will be run by Soilco for 10 years with an additional five year option for Council to extend.
The project is supported by the NSW Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA's Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy. The initiative provides funding support to councils and other organisations to build facilities to increase the amount of organic waste diverted from landfill in NSW.
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Caption: Marking the start of work on the $7 million organics processing facility at the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre are Tweed Shire Council Director Sustainable Communities and Environment, Tracey Stinson, Councillor James Owen, Member for Tweed Geoff Provest, Soilco General Manager Charlie Emery and (at back) from Soilco Shane Morgan, Tony Emery and Lance Jeffrey.