Shopping centre set to recycle 250 tonnes every year

Waste management aerobic composting technology

Two hundred and fifty tonnes of waste will be recycled per year at Erina Fair through an on-site organic waste management system, taking the retail centre one step closer to achieving its ‘zero net waste’ goal.

The Central Coast retail centre is claimed to be the first commercial development in the world to implement an on-site organic waste management system which uses an in-vessel aerobic composting technology.

The Australian developed Hungry Pig in-vessel composting technology has the potential to recycle up to 40% of the centre’s total food waste. The recycled waste - transformed to organic compost - will be used to maintain the landscaped environment of the centre and donated to local schools.

In addition to reducing odours and pests from rubbish bins and risks associated with poor waste handling, the Hungry Pig technology will address waste-related sustainable objectives including a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that arise from transport and landfilling of organic wastes.

The process undertaken to recycle waste involves the collection of food waste in wheelie bins from fresh produce and food service retail outlets. The wheelie bins are then tipped directly into the loading hatch of the organic waste management system - Hungry Pig - using an electronic bin lift. Dry sawdust, shavings and paper waste is added to balance the moisture content.

The hot, aerobic composting conditions ensure all materials are pasteurised by heat to destroy any human and plant pathogens in the waste materials. Compost is harvested from the bottom of the unit via a discharge hatch.

All chopping and mixing of food waste occurs inside the compost unit to minimise spillage or odour generation.

Lend Lease’s CEO - Australia, Rod Leaver, said Erina Fair is setting a global benchmark for green retail centres, helping to leave a positive legacy for future generations.

“We are very excited to be the first retail centre in the world to implement this cutting-edge composting technology which will address a range of long-term waste management issues at the centre,” said Leaver.

Co-owned by the GPT Group and the Lend Lease managed Australian Prime Property Fund Retail, Erina Fair’s commitment to sustainability was further recognised after recently being awarded a $652,000 water grant from the NSW Government. With the grant, the centre is installing water harvesting systems which will conserve the equivalent of 27 million 600 mL bottles of water per year. This will reduce the centre’s annual water usage by more than 15%.

In addition, the centre’s LED lighting, installed in the car park and emergency exits, will improve lighting efficiency by up to 90% in refit areas.

Angus Campbell from the Recycled Organics Unit has worked closely with Erina Fair to develop a system that meets the centre’s waste management needs.

“The current capacity of the facility is five tonnes of food waste per week but we plan to expand this to manage the centre’s waste disposal costs and to further increase environmental benefit,” said Campbell.

“The important aspect of the technology is that all the size reduction of food waste and mixing occurs inside the composting chamber, so there is no spillage or mess that would otherwise attract pests or cause odour.”

Chairperson at Harris Farm Markets Cathy Harris said the company is thrilled to collaborate with Lend Lease on the waste recycling project and will be encouraging other Erina Fair retailers to do the same.

“We will strongly encourage other centre retailers to get behind this program by composting their leftover waste.

The project will result in high-quality compost being returned to help sustain soil health, and importantly will also divert organic waste from ending up as landfill,” said Harris.