Organics Infrastructure – Stream 2 Business Organics Recycling grant project summaries

AMP Capital Investors Limited

Macquarie Centre public area food waste organics collection – $178,300

Macquarie Shopping Centre will increase its collection of organic waste from the Centre’s food court. The project will demonstrate that compostable packaging can be used in retail environments to support the recovery of uneaten food, as well as divert food packaging waste from landfill into compost facilities. It will divert 230 tonnes of organic waste each year. This project may serve as a case study for other shopping centres.

Council of the City of Sydney

Plates to parks: recycling food waste locally – $304,740

The City of Sydney aims to be a zero waste City by 2030 – starting with the City's own buildings. This project includes the installation of four food waste dehydrators at key city buildings, including Sydney Town Hall, Town Hall House, the nearby food court and Customs House. Food waste from these buildings will be collected and turned into soil enhancers to be used throughout the city's parks and gardens.

David Jones Pty Limited

Organic food waste project – $106,569

The redevelopment of the David Jones' Elizabeth Street store will include a new Food Hall. In line with the company's Good Business Journey strategy, the re-development aims to reduce the site's impact on the environment. The Organic Food Waste Project will recycle organic food waste produced in the Food Hall. The project involves installing a dehydrator to collect and manage an average 189 tonnes of organic waste a year for further processing by a licensed third-party composting operation.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Wild about recycling: diverting food waste and compostable packaging – $187,300

Taronga has a target of diverting 90% of waste from landfill from both Taronga Zoo (Mosman) and Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo). This funding will allow Taronga Zoo to purchase an in-vessel composting system, a shredder, bin infrastructure and deliver clear education messaging at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. The system will divert food waste and compostable packaging from landfill. The end product will be used on-site – closing the loop and providing zoo animals with lush pastures to graze and roam upon.

University of Sydney

On-site organic waste aerobic digestor – $376,560

This project involves installing a HotRot in-vessel composting system to process up to 155 tonnes of food and garden organics a year. It will demonstrate best practice and a cost-effective solution for the on-site recycling of food waste. It will include student and staff education and research to enhance knowledge of composting in a commercial environment. The project may act as a case study of separate collection and processing of food waste in a city environment for local reuse of the compost.