Monday 2 July 2012

Parramatta Council's Fab New Waste Solution!

Dissappointingly I received a flyer over the last couple of weeks "Have YOUR Say on Waste Collection". Parra City Waste Survey "Take part in our survey and win one of 10 x $200 gift vouchers from Coles Myer, Bunnings, JB Hi FI"  Guys, which company has supported you on this and actually knows the proposed outcomes?

All new services carry a new charge.  So, this flyer, is a softner fo ratepayers and what they can expect to see on their next rates review.

Point1, Getting to the point:  Option 2: Dispose of food waste in the Garden Organics Bin.  Several Sydney councils have gone down this line over the past 5 years.  Penrith, Manly area, Eastern suburbs.  All seem to be missing the point with regards to recycling food waste in an organic and sustainable way.  For example, Penrith council put this in place some 3 years or so ago.  Within weeks, customers had rotting food in bins, in the hot summer, outside there addresses, with flys, smells and stenches to deal with.  The proposed pickups are not regular enough to guarantee a clean and healthy envoronment around the home.

Point 2, where is the waste going?  Nobody ever questions where the waste ends up,  they just wear the councils decision and abide by the new rules.  Unless the food waste is pastuerised immediately via a large commercial facility and turned into a nutrient rich soil conditioner or pellets (fertiliser) then the process is absolutely useless and will just create methane and gaps in landfil that will be disastrous.  My guess (unqualified) is it will be dumped with the rest of our waste.  They don't mention in the survey flyer, where the waste goes, or how it will be treated...

A better way to treat your household families food waste is to treat it with EM or bokashi powder, then compost the treated waste in a responsible way, like: heat treating and producing some form of pellets or fertiliser, or digging back through your garden, completing a close to home organic cycle.

I cannot say for sure, but I guess that most of these previous councils schemes have failed already and been shelved.  This scheme is only benefitting:  the waste contracters and the wholesale suppliers of wheelie bins.  Shame on you councils, for wasting ratepayers money on poorly researched schemes.

To get an idea of how the Japanese Bokashi System should work, check out www.bokashi.com.au .  EM (Effectictive Microorganisms) are naturally occuring and prevent food waste from rotting or putryfying.  Enabling you to re-use you kitchen food waste as a safe and nutrient rich soil conditioner, with no bad smells or bad effects on our fragile environment.

Do you want your smellie rotting food sitting in your compound for up to a week?

Very happy to receive your comments and reply as an exponent on Bokashi use in Australia.

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