Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Sydney digs waste to soil plan

City of Sydney Council is using a state-of-the-art food dehydrator to turn food waste into soil conditioner.

The dehydrator provides a circular method to dispose of organic waste from each of the offices in Town Hall House at 456 Kent Street, as well as its cafe and caterers.

Around 65 tonnes of food waste is expected to be processed in the machine each year, creating 13 tonnes of high-grade soil product, Council said in a statement.

The soil will be used in city parks to help grow plants and trees, reducing the need to buy fertiliser, it said.

The dehydrator in Town Hall House. Photo: Abril Felman/City of Sydney
The dehydrator in Town Hall House. Photo: Abril Felman/City of Sydney

Soil conditioner costs around $8 a kilogram, meaning the pilot scheme has the potential to save the Council $104,000 a year.

“It will also help us with our target of diverting 90% from landfill in the next 3 years from City of Sydney properties,” the Council said.

The food dehydrator works by removing water from food waste, reducing its volume by 80% and turning it into a soil product similar to compost.

The project is supported by a grant from the NSW Environmental Trust.

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