Period: 2016-18

Funding Body: WA Waste Authority, Foundation for Rural & Regional Development

Funds: $16,225

Project Officers: Helen Parsons

Summary

To construct a composting facility (at the Cranbrook refuse site), and improve community understanding of green waste recycling through an onsite workshop.

Outcome

A Crommelins 14HP woodchipper, 22500L water tank and solar pump was purchased to setup a green garden waste composting facility at the Cranbrook refuse site on Rubbish Tip Road to be operated and run by the caretaker of the refuse site. Stockpiled garden waste was chipped and stockpiled rather than burnt (the current practice). About half of the chipped pile was further recycled into compost by adding inoculated microbes and keeping the pile moist during the summer period. These two end products of the stockpiled green waste being; chipped and composted, would then be sold/offered free of charge to residents of the Cranbrook townsite and surrounding areas to be used in their gardens and also by the Shire of Cranbrook Parks and Gardens team for the towns street scape gardens mulch ongoing replenishment. An onsite workshop (twelve attendees) took place to educate and expose residents of the benefits of mulching in their gardens to conserve water, and build the soil carbon by using green waste.

However, two logistical issues have been identified as compromising the projects future long term success;

• Access to a consistent water supply at the refuse site

• Refuse site is managed by a private contractor who was not fully committed to the project and its ongoing operations.

This Gillamii initiated project based at the Cranbrook refuse site encourages the community to become involved in restoring and protecting the local environment by organising the community to come together and help resolve local environmental issues (burning of green garden waste) by working in partnership with our local council and the private contractor of the refuse site to recycle green waste into woodchip mulch and compost.

Report

No Report Available