The Gippsland Regional Organics facility will receive a $12.2 million upgrade to increase the plant’s capacity to process organic waste into compost, from 70,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes a year.
The expansion will be funded by a combined $4.8 million from Sustainability Victoria’s Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund and the Federal Government’s Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund.
The facility in Dutson Downs, owned and run by Gippsland Water, takes organic waste including green waste and biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, industrial and reportable priority waste, and transforms it into certified Australian Standard compost.
This project is one of the ways Sustainability Victoria is partnering with industry to ensure more recycled product is available at a larger scale, and that recycled products are used instead of virgin materials.
Shannon Smyth, Sustainability Victoria’s Manager Markets Acceleration, said good scraps from the community will form part of this compost being added to a pasture.
“This is probably the most accessible and circular option in terms of transforming waste into a new product and being able to present that to a market,” he said
“People can actually buy recycled product that was once the food waste being generated from their kitchens and gardens.”
Sarah Cumming, Gippsland Water Managing Director, said Gippsland Regional Organics is already well established as one of the best examples of a circular economy businesses in the state.
She said the facility is one of the largest organic waste recycling facilities in the state, employing 21 people. This expansion will support 33 jobs during construction and up to eight new ongoing positions.
Andrew Dougall, Sustainability Victoria’s Organics Industry Development Lead, said Gippsland Regional Organics is thinking ahead by installing the capacity needed to process organics from new kerbside food organics and garden organics services.
“They’re now able to supply more of the high-quality compost needed by the vibrant agricultural industries in Gippsland, right at their doorstep,” he said.
Construction on the expanded facility is expected for completion in December 2024.
For more information, visit: https://www.gippswater.com.au/about-us/gippsland-regional-organics
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