The Green Solutions site – where residents will be able to dispose of green waste free of charge – is progressing well ahead of scheduled opening early next year.
Greensill Farming Group shared an update of the exciting new project on Windermere Road as part of National Recycling Week.
Greensill Farming Group’s Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Projects Nathan Freeman said the site had already begun trialling compost development in preparation for opening.
“We started development only a couple of months ago, and it is progressing really well,” Nathan said.
“If the weather stays right, we should hopefully be able to start operations in early 2021.
“What we will do is open the facility up for residents of the Bundaberg Region to be able to bring their green waste to the site.
“All the shrubs, clippings, any backyard waste, as long as it's green waste, we'll accept it.
“At this stage, we're looking at it being a free facility where you'll be able to come along and dump your green waste free of charge.”
Nathan said the green waste would be put through a specialised state-of-the-art process to create pasteurised compost for use on the farm.
“Greensill Farming Group obviously have really looked at the research behind it and it really helps with our soil composition,” he said.
“It also means that we're reducing the number of chemicals and fertilisers that we're having to use, so it's a real benefit for not only our farming operations, but the local environment.”
Nathan said in addition to supporting local residents, it was also fantastic knowing Green Solutions would reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
“There's so many problems with that with regards to methane leaching and leachates and all those sorts of things.
“We'll take that out of landfill and turn that into something that will be beneficial.”
Greensill Farming Group’s commitment to sustainability is evident on the Green Solutions site with a focus on minimising waste streams.
Rocks excavated on site have been kept and reused, and a significant number of native trees are being planted.
The Green Solutions site will also connect with environmental programs, including Reef Guardian, and create opportunities for education and research.
“We're looking at expanding that out to education through schools, we've had a number of school groups already approach us to come in and have a look at the facility,” Nathan said.
“We work really closely with the local university as well about the soil compositions and all those sorts of things … so we'll start to really roll that out from a research perspective as well.”
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