Tip turned into green space, thanks to garden waste

A western Sydney council and a State government department have joined forces to use recycled garden waste to help transform a former landfill into parkland. They are holding an open day next week to explain to other councils and land managers how it's done.

Penrith City Council, working in partnership with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), applied 1500 cubic metres of recycled compost as part of the top dressing for its rehabilitated Gipps St Landfill site at Claremont Meadows, near St Marys.

The project was part of a trial under which the council used 3200 tonnes of recycled organic material to fertilise its parks and sporting fields, as well as to help transform the landfill site.

The trial was today branded a success by Penrith City Mayor, Councillor Pat Sheehy, and the Executive Director of DECC's Sustainability Programs Division, Tim Rogers, who said other councils should consider adopting the same approach.

"The compost was made from garden waste collected from the local area. It has enabled the turf to establish faster, and to hold up well despite the current drought. It means we'll be able to develop the parklands sooner," Sheehy said.

"The program has enabled us to return nutrients to the soil in the region where they were originally removed. It has also saved landscaping material costs and fulfilled a community service."

Rogers said the trial, which began in June 2006, had been supported by rigorous research and scientific testing. He said he hoped more councils and other landfill managers would adopt the use of compost as a standard practice in rehabilitation projects.

"By finding innovative uses for compost, we can recycle more organic wastes and avoid some of the greenhouse gases normally produced when these materials are landfilled," Rogers said.

"I invite all council waste and environment managers, landfill managers and consultants in related industries to our field day at the Gipps St site from 9.15 am-1 pm on Friday 29th June. It will be a great opportunity to hear about best practice landfill rehabilitation."

Sheehy said the council was monitoring the environmental performance of the Gipps St site, and considering its long-term use. He said the council was also preparing to introduce a household collection of garden and food waste, and would use compost produced from the service.