Zero Waste Initiative For Community Gardens
Story by Jo Dean, Tasmanian CGA committee member, February 2022
We have created a PDF as a useful resource for schools and community covering methods to reduce waste and creating useful resources from waste. Download the PDF below.
In Australia, 7.3 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted each year, of that 1.2 million is recycled, 2.9 million is recovered, and 3.2 million, enough to fill 5400 Olympic sized swimming pools is sent to landfill.75% of all food that is sent to landfill comes from our households. Food waste rotting in landfill produces methane, which is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. For every tonne of food waste in landfill, a tonne of CO2 is generated. When we waste food, we also waste the natural resources that go into making it, like land, water, and energy.
Find out more here: https://www.foodbank.org.au/food-waste-facts-in-australia
But the good news is we can all be part of the change!
Composting food waste at home, school, work, or in the community garden is simple, effective, and a great way to add organic matter and nutrients that support your garden to grow!
Students and teachers from Colleges and Schools in Launceston have asked about composting food waste and ways to troubleshoot potential problems that arise. So with the help of funding through Northern Waste Management a team of compost and waste-reduction advocates produced this great resource.
Check it out! Composting is a fabulous way to take action and make a difference in your patch, it benefits your garden, community, and the environment as a whole! It is simple when you know how.
Contact us
Contact us if you have any questions about compost making in your community garden patch at: tas@communitygarden.org.au