Organic waste from Adelaide Oval gets a new life

Food scraps and organic waste from on-site food preparation and catering areas at the Adelaide Oval will find a new use as nutrient-rich compost, thanks to a closed system recycling program supported by BASF.

The program, a cooperative effort between BASF, Compost Australia and BiobiN Technologies, is an innovative approach to resource recovery and the first of its kind at Australia’s iconic Adelaide Oval. In February, during the Commonwealth Bank One Day International Cricket Series, food and other organic waste was collected using certified compostable bags made from BASF Ecoflex.

These bags, certified to the Australian Standard AS 4736 for biodegradable plastics and the source separated waste they contain, were taken away and delivered to an industrial composting site, processed, then re-used by farmers as nutrient-rich compost.

The use of BASF’s biodegradable bin liners made with Ecoflex will contribute to the success of the composting and recycling efforts by removing potential sources of contamination and making collection cleaner, hygienic and more efficient.

BASF has already been involved in several trials worldwide to demonstrate the potential of composting as a feasible and effective waste management option for organic waste. In 2011, BASF, Woolworths, Zero Waste Australia and the Murrumbidgee Shire Council entered into a partnership for the Cooperation of Organics Out of Landfill (COOL) project. The COOL project demonstrated that certified compostable bags made of Ecoflex are biodegradable, as well as providing proof of concept for composting of organic waste at an agricultural level as well as a low-cost option for composting by local councils, managers and households.