Episode: SA Easter Special
Date: 10th April
Story: Green Waste Recycling
Presenter: Kim Syrus

Kim follows the cycle of green waste - from home pruning in the green waste bin, kerbside collection, arrival at the recycler and right through to composting.

• Each year the South Australian compost industry recycles more than 550,000 tonnes of organic material into compost and mulches.
• It is important to only put organic plant trimmings into organic recycling bins.
• Contents of bins are deposited at one of a number of large composting facilities in South Australia.
• Here, the garden organics become rich brown compost.
• Loaders pile fresh waste into windrows, where biological reactions begin, creating heat and encouraging microbes to start breaking down the organic matter.
• Anything that is inorganic can?t be broken down, the biggest culprit being plastic bags. Extracting these items is timely and costly.

Zero Waste SA

• Zero Waste SA is a South Australian state government organisation.
• They promote waste management practices, as well as play an important role in sustainability.
• They provide grants to local councils, the waste industry and businesses.
• Zero Waste SA also assists industry with the development of markets for recovered resources and recycled materials.
• They also support research into waste management practices and issues.
• Zero Waste SA is working towards meeting the target to ?reduce waste by 25% by 2014? in South Australia?s Strategic Plan.

Contact
Zero Waste SA
Statewide House, Level 8, 99 Gawler Place
Adelaide SA 5001, Australia
Phone: (08) 8204 2051
Fax: (08) 8204 1911
Website: www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au