Closing the loop on organics in cities: At-scale food-waste composting

At scale food composting – Rocky Point

In 2018 this research included a project to document the 100 tonne of food waste collected from key Commonwealth Games venues during the games. This academic-industry collaboration created precedent to inspire future efforts to reduce waste and achieve waste targets by 2020 (Australian Waste Strategy) and to align with the 12th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Channel 7 news link

Griffith media piece

FOGO – addressing the supply chain

With the increasing volumes in domestic, commercial and industrial waste and diminishing availability in landfills, it is critical to have targeted strategies to effectively manage each waste stream in Australia. Among these diverse waste streams, the ‘average’ household garbage bin in South East Queensland consists of more than 50 per cent ‘food organics and garden organics’ (FOGO), highlighting the significant opportunity for transforming food and garden waste into a valuable commercially viable composting product.

This research evaluated strategies and technologies to close the loop. We engaged with key stakeholders to investigate short- and long-term methods towards recycling and reusing food and garden waste, a valuable resource wasted to landfill.  Our findings provide evidence for key stakeholders such as local councils, food suppliers/vendors, Queensland Farmers Federation, Departments of Environment and Science and the local community, to promote the value of creating high-quality food-and garden organic waste streams for collection and processing. We highlight the current divergence of attention between technology and processes, and opportunities arising through this appreciation, that can guide academics, industry practitioners and government decision makers to collaborate and achieve sustainable resource management outcomes aligned to United Nations Sustainable Development goals.

ResearchGate link to the Fogo presentation- NSRO

Marketplace for construction and demolition waste

As a part of the SBEnrc research project 1.65, in 2019 a feasibility study  was conducted to consider the potential for a marketplace that connects organisations and industries across jurisdictions for trading waste. Based on these findings, the authors presented an emergent framework of enablers and barriers that would guide practitioners, government policymakers in creating waste trading platforms. Our findings are useful for industry practitioners, government policymakers addressing circular economy opportunities at a firm level, and governance leaders in bridging the gap between ideas and action for scaling up construction and demolition waste management practices.