Garden waste to compost and back to gardens.
Gail Thomas shares a good news story from Geelong.
The City of Greater Geelong is celebrating the success of its locally produced compost, which is enriching gardens and green spaces across the region – all thanks to the community’s green bin efforts along with a $43,520 grant from Sustainability Victoria.
Made from garden organics collected in green bins along with scarified grass from local sports ovals, the City’s compost is a shining example of the circular economy in action.
Nutrient-rich, it is being used in parks across Greater Geelong, not only enhancing soil health but also improving water retention, effectively drought-proofing these green spaces.
Both the Geelong West Community Garden and Barwon Heads Community Garden have embraced the compost, resulting in vibrant plants and an abundance of crops with members reporting healthier soil and thriving plants.
Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM said the compost program is a success story that reflects the City’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
“We’re leading the way with this innovative approach as one of only a few councils in Australia that process our garden waste locally. Something we’re very proud of,” Mayor Kontelj said. “This compost is more than just great for vegie gardens, it’s also being used in parks and reserves, helping to build healthy urban landscapes across Greater Geelong.
“By transforming green bin waste into premium compost, we’re cutting landfill, lowering emissions, and delivering real value back to our community and environment.”
Locally processed and used
The compost is processed at the City’s Anakie organics facility, helping to reduce transport emissions and maintain quality control. Around 40,000 tonnes of garden waste are diverted from landfill each year, significantly reducing methane emissions and supporting the Victorian Government’s target to halve organic waste to landfill by 2030.
Councillor Elise Wilkinson, Chair of the Environment and Circular Economy portfolio, said the compost program is a key part of the City’s broader climate goals.
“By 2035, our aim is for the Geelong region to reach net zero carbon emissions and programs like this are helping us get there,” Cr Wilkinson said. “Small everyday choices, like using your green bin properly, can lead to big wins for the environment.”
The compost is Australian Standard Certified and is also being used in vegetable gardens at the Geelong Botanic Gardens, where some of the produce is donated to Geelong Foodshare, further extending the community benefit.
Where to buy
Residents can purchase the Geelong-made 25L bags of compost at the Friends Nursery at the Geelong Botanic Gardens along with local garden centres including Lara Garden Supplies, Van Loons and Wallington WRG, South Point Garden Supplies and Faggs Mitre 10 in South Geelong and Wallington. Bulk Compost is also available from Wallington’s Water Rural Garden, Lara Garden Supplies and Southpoint Garden Supplies Torquay.
See composting at work with this video.
