The compost industry - a valuable contributor to South Australia's environment
The South Australian compost industry is a significant contributor to the South Australian environment, providing opportunities for the community to divert waste from landfill, reduce greenhouse emissions, sequester carbon, reduce reliance on the Murray River and improve South Australia’s agricultural sustainability.
Adelaide residents divert lawn clippings, prunings and leaves from landfill by placing these materials in their green-organics kerbside collections. This material is collected by local councils for processing into compost and compost-mulch for return to our valuable agricultural soils. South Australia’s three largest compost processors accept around 180,000 tonnes per annum of organic resources diverted from landfill. In addition, the compost industry diverts other organic commercial ‘wastes’ such as animal manure and forestry by-products amounting to several hundred thousand tonnes.
By diverting organic matter from landfill, the compost industry enables the community to prevent the generation of greenhouse gases the equivalent of over 200,000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to the amount produced by around 60,000 cars each year.
These benefits are achieved just by diversion from landfill. The application of compost to agricultural soils provides opportunities to sequester carbon. Many agricultural soils are relatively low in organic carbon, and can benefit from higher levels. Raising the level of soil organic carbon in South Australia’s viticultural soils alone by 1% would sequester an additional three million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent amount produced by one million cars in one year.
The South Australian compost industry contributes significantly to the sustainability of agriculture, and the health of our food. The addition of compost to vegetable soils on the Northern Adelaide plains improves the soil, conserves irrigation water and can reduce the inputs of synthetic fertilizers and sprays required to produce crops.
Used as a mulch, compost can significantly reduce the amount of water required to produce irrigated crops. For example, used as a mulch in vineyards, conservative estimates suggest potential irrigation savings of 20-30%. With around one quarter of average South Australian vignerons using compost mulch to achieve these savings, as much water could be saved as South Australian households saved on Level 3 water restrictions during the first half of 2007.
Three of South Australia’s largest compost processors have joined together to initiate the ‘Compost for Soils’ project, with support from the National Landcare Programme. Through this project, the compost industry is promoting the best possible use of compost on our agricultural soils, assisting farmers and growers in getting the best value from these materials. For more information, please visit the project website; www.compostforsoils.com.au
Investment of three major compost processors in South Australia’s environmental infrastructure
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Number of employees
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175
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Capital investment
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$27 million
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Diversion of residential organics from landfill
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180,000 tonnes
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Diversion of other organic residues
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>200,000 tonnes
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