Eenee Designs blog

The Aproneers is a great new store in Lindisfarne

http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/soil-protection-critical-for-europes-economy-and-ecosystems-281312

Check out out article in the Tasmanian Times!

http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/pr-article/thinking-of-going-out/

Eenee Eco Food Loop

Would you like to help improve and maintain the high quality of food in Tasmania? Then you've found the information you need! All the restaurants and cafes on this tour recycle their organic waste through commercial composting, helping maintain and improve the quality of our local soil and therefore the food you eat! Will you accept the challenge of visiting all of them? 

Please check out our other supporters too!

Eenee Hobart Eco Food Loop

Enterprise - Tasmania's premier business magazine Eenee Organics Recycling

Article on Eenee Designs - Organics Recycling

Eenee Organics Recycling with Pickled Pear, UTAS

  Eenee Organics Recycling with Christine, owner of Pickled Pear at UTAS (University Club). They use a 240L organics wheelie bin with a compostable bin liner and transfer organic waste from a kitchen bin into the 240L bin outside which is then collected weekly for commercially composting.

Eenee Organics Recycling with Calvary Hospital

 

Eenee Organics Recycling with Calvary Hospital. Calvary's kitchens produce 120 meals 3 times a day and all organic waste goes straight into 240L wheelie bins which are lined with compostable bin liners. The 240L organics bins have the new innovative bin liner snib to prevent bags collapsing into the bins when waste is placed in them.

Eenee Organics Recycling with Hydro Tasmania

Eenee Organics Recycling with Hydro Tasmania. Hydro Tasmania provide ventilated kitchen bench top bins and compostable bin liners on all floors of their office building for staff to use for tea bags, coffee grounds and food waste. The waste is collected from the bins every few days and stored in a ventilated 240L bin in the basement for collection fortnightly.

Eenee Organics Recycling with Vermey's Quality Meats in Sandy Bay, TAS

Soil-saving scraps - Tasmanian Country Hour - ABC Rural Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Soil-saving scraps - Tasmanian Country Hour - ABC Rural Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Organics Recycling with Karen Goodwin-Roberts from Taste Catering at the Bahai Centre, Hobart, Tasmania

 

What is the total economic value of compost?

Posted Date: 8/23/2011 Re-Posted from WME Business Environment Network

Paula Wallace | waste@ben-global.com That's the question which compostable plastics maker BASF was attempting to answer in undertaking research, the result of which it presented via webinar on August 19 at the invitation of Compost Australia. BASF's Christopher Bradlee shared the results of BASF's economic analysis, which found that the total economic value of compost is around A$33 as compared with the conventional disposal of organic waste via landfill and extraction of methane gas, which came in at around A$2 in value. To find out what were the most sustainable options for disposal of organic waste, BASF performed a lifecycle analysis which focused on MSW (municipal solid waste) to landfill and to composting, using Australia-specific parameters. The study looked at the economic benefits, on an amortised cost basis, of diverting organics and subsequent compost product when used in commercial agricultural, landscaping and pollution prevention projects. Such benefits include adding value through reduction in water and fertiliser useage, preventing soil erosion, increasing yield response. The eco-efficiency analysis compared the current organics diversion rate or the "as is" situation; with 100% landfill or no composting; with "as is" + 50% diversion or organics to composting that is currently going to landfill; and with 100% diversion of organics to landfill. Economic considerations included costs to build and operate the compost site or landfill; tipping fees; value of the electricity from landfill gas; value of compost as fertiliser, water savings and increased yield; and the value of extending the life of landfill. The results showed that in the "as is" scenario (for 80,000 tonnes of MSW) with 7,800 tonnes going to composting the operational costs of landfill were marginally less than those of 100% diversion of organics to composting which was around 4% more costly. However, when considered from a total cost perspective which includes the value of composting and compost and landfill gas energy, the cost differential (for disposal of 80,000 tonnes of MSW under varying levels of organics diversion to composting) is significant. If all the organics were diverted to composting the costs would be almost half that of depositing all the organics in landfill. In fact, any diversion of organics from landfills above "as is" rates could effectively increase the service life of landfills by at least 50-60%. If you divert an additional 50% of the organics that are currently going to landfill this could mean a landfill life of more like 22 years, according to BASF's modelling, which would mean annual amortised costs of $1 million (with composting costs of $120,000 per year) thereby saving around $620,000 per year or $23 per tonne. Taking the theoretical case of all landfills having gas recovery systems in place, Bradlee suggested that the value of each tonne of organics (from 80,000 tonnes of MSW) would be around A$6.50. This is based on 0.288 MJ electricity generation each day/tonne waste; 105 MJ electricity generation each year/tonne waste; and selling price of electricity of $0.05/MJ. For the "as is" situation, based on 17% of landfills having landfill gas recovery systems, the value of each tonne of organic waste would be around A$2. "We say waste to energy makes a lot of sense just not in a landfill," said Bradlee, "organics to energy is best in systems designed specifically for this purpose but not in landfills where the decay, capture and conversion is not optimal". Based on its research BASF considers the overall value of compost as $66 per tonne, or based on tonnes of organics at $33 per tonne (given that two tonnes of organics produces one tonne of finished compost). This includes all the values previously mentioned to agriculture, landscaping, yield increases etc. "So you're comparing $2 per tonne with $33 per tonne, it just doesn't make economic sense to move organics into landfills and capture the gas," said Bradlee.

 

Turning Trash into Treasure; Write up on Organics Recycling in the Sunday Tasmania!

Sustainable Living & Harmony day at Kingborough Sunday 27th March 2011

Meet our Eenee team at the Sustainable Living & Harmony day event at Kingborough on Sunday 27th March 2011.  This will be at the Kingborough Civic Centre between 10am and 2pm, just look for our little Smart Car.  We will be giving away samples of Compostable Doggy Bags.

http://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Love_Living_Locally_27_March_2011.pdf

 

Breaking News - Philanthropist support for Eenee Food and Garden Waste recycling

Following an article in the South Hobart newsletter, a South Hobart resident who shares our passion for recycling organics, has offered to subsidise the cost for 100 customers who sign up and start recycling their organics.  This makes it even easier for residents to enjoy the convenience of our Eenee Organics Recycling service for the greater Hobart area.  

The Gardeners Friend Compost available at K&D stores and garden outlets Tasmania wide, bulk supplies at Males Sands Hobart

Closing the loop with the high quality Soil First compost available at K&D stores and many garden outlets Tasmania wide under the Gardeners Friend brand.   Bulk supplies can be found at Males Sands, just ask for Soil First compost.

Sustainable Living Expo Hobart 2011 at Princes Wharf

Eenee Organics Recyling at Salamanca Market, Hobart

Our Smart car out and about at Salamanca Market in Hobart

Healthy Soils Australia (HSA) | Home

Healthy Soils Australia

‘The nation that destroys its soils destroys itself’ – Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

Healthy soils are essential to maintain the quality of our food, the purity of our water, and the cleanliness of the air we breathe.  Our health and that of our children, and the health of generations to come, depends on the way we manage our soil.

Our PURPOSE is

To create an activist network that shares common values and provides a platform to reconnect the vital role of soil health with food integrity and human health.

Our MISSION is

To raise awareness of the benefits of healthy soils, and assist land managers to adopt innovative management options to increase living carbon in their soils, to

• increase soil productivity and capital value
• increase nutrition in our food and better health for people and animals
• restore plant and ‘pest’ balance, water retention, and environmental balance
• decrease chemical input into soils, and
• facilitate natural carbon sequestration from the air to the soil.

We DO THIS by

• providing free access to a wide range of reliable and relevant research, practical information, and discussion on soil remediation solutions on our website, at conferences and at regional workshops
• promoting the recognition of the capital value of sequestered soil carbon and a fair price for land managers who sequester it, and
• presenting soil related issues to government, business and the community.

Healthy Soils

Healthy soil is alive with trillions of minute organisms which recycle and free up nutrients to drive plant growth. More plant mass means greater productivity with lower production costs. More nutrient availability and balance means better quality food. More living organisms mean better soil structure and plant growth, slower water movement through the soil, increasing soil water retention and reducing erosion.

Modern farming practices release carbon from soil by decreasing soil microbial life through the overuse of expensive pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers.  These destroy the balance between microbes and plants and inhibit plant growth.  As well as the burning of fossil fuels, current farming practices cause a carbon imbalance in the air, destroying the global environmental balance.

Balance can be restored by managing plants to remove the CO2 from the air and sequester it into the soil.  Plant growth can be greatly facilitated by boosting, rather than killing, the army of soil microbes which make nutrients bio-available to plants.

Who we are

The board of Healthy Soils Australia (HSA) is made up of nine members who are passionate about bringing about a change in the status quo.  We are activists, who are concerned about the way our land is managed and our food is produced. We believe that the food chain from the soil to human health has to be reconnected.  All HSA directors are volunteers, working on your behalf.  We need you to join our voice by becoming members of HSA.

HSA supports all soil technologies that have been proven to work over long periods of time.  Our focus is on what innovative farmers and graziers are actually doing, and doing independently of current scientific knowledge or theorising, and independently of proprietary methods.

Every land manager and every piece of land is unique, marked by their own personality, needs and limitations. There is no one size fits all, and no definitive answer to the how-to question. The answer is broad and simple – soil must be full

via www.healthysoils.com.au

This site has some great information and highlights the importance of looking after our soils. Wonderful individuals doing wonderful work.

New research shows Australians dump $5.2 billion of food annually

Australian households are throwing out $5.2 billion worth of food each year, which exceedsthe amount they spend on digital equipment such as flat screen TVs, according to newresearch by The Australia Institute.  “To put this into context, the $5.2 billion worth of food that Australians throw out each year isenough money to meet the shortfall in the United Nations Emergency Relief Fund,” said report author David Baker. https://www.tai.org.au/index.php?q=node/19&pubid=695&act=display

The Australia Institute is a partner in Do Something’s ‘FoodWise’ campaign, which aims to reduce this high level of waste.

ACCC successful in prosecuting 'degradable' bag compostable claims

Follow this link to the Sydney Morning Herald article:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/accc-wins-goody-bag-legal-battle-20110105-19fwb.html

ACCC wins Goody bag legal battle

January 5, 2011

AAP

The consumer watchdog has won a legal battle against a company it accused of engaging in deceptive marketing of plastic shopping bags in South Australia.

The Federal Court in Adelaide has declared that Goody Environment Pty Ltd engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and made false representations about Goody branded plastic bags.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) case against Goody was that the company claimed its Goody branded plastic bags were biodegradable and compostable and could be legally supplied in South Australia.

Advertisement: Story continues below

The ACCC said this was not the case because the bags contained the heavy metal molybdenum in amounts that exceeded the maximum concentration prescribed by the Australian standard and did not adequately biodegrade, disintegrate or compost.

Goody has undertaken to the court to refrain from making representations that plastic shopping bags are biodegradable or compostable unless it has first obtained independent scientific testing of the bags.

Acting ACCC chairman Michael Schaper said businesses must ensure biodegradable or recyclable claims can be substantiated and are appropriately qualified so as not to mislead consumers.

"Environmental claims are powerful selling tools as many purchasers want to do the right thing for the environment," Dr Schaper said in a statement.

Goody Environment says it remains puzzled by the outcome because its product was launched only after it had been certified to meet all Australian standards for composting by Zero Waste SA and independent tests by Flinders University.

© 2011 AAP

 

It's Happening - First Organic Waste Collection October 2010

New Organic Waste Collection Service Launched! - Tasmanian Times

Hobart residents will soon be able to recycle all their organic kitchen and garden waste into compost through a convenient new collection service.

Hobart company, Eenee Designs will soon begin Tasmania’s first household organic waste collection. It is hoped that thousands of tons of organic waste that currently goes to landfill can be collected, commercially composted and returned to farms and gardens. 
Managing Director, Sue Allison-Rogers, said that over 30% of household waste going to landfill is organic and should be separated and turned into valuable compost.
She hopes that providing this new opt-in service will attract householders who currently are not able to compost but want to do the right thing and recycle their organic waste.  The service is also able to process organics which are not suitable for home composting e.g. meat, bones and dairy.
The company will provide a specially designed 240L wheelie bin and kitchen tidies with compostable liners. The final bagged compost will be available locally from selected outlets.
Hobart Alderman Bill Harvey is supportive of the new service and has signed up to be the first customer. He said this is a fantastic initiative, which will divert a significant proportion of the 50,000 tons of waste per year that is buried at McRobies Gully landfill site. The tip is nearly full so we need to look at alternatives and support innovative business ideas. Turning waste into valuable products is essential in managing our waste into the future.
Eenee Designs is famous for introducing compostable nappies and is committed to environmental sustainability.

Click on this link to go to the online article Tasmanian Times Article

Kerb-side compost service begins - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A new kerb-side kitchen and garden organic waste service hopes to reduce the amount of landfill at a South Hobart tip.

In what's believed to be a Tasmanian first, Hobart company Eenee Designs will distribute specially designed 240 litre wheelie bins to those who sign up to the fortnightly collection.

It is aimed at reducing the 50,000 tonnes of waste which ends up each year at McRobies Gully tip.

Sue Allison-Rogers from Eenee Designs says the bins are tamper-proof.

"We're really treating this as very high quality organics with no contamination from plastic or glass which is essential to get a good quality compost. Otherwise all you're doing is collecting a very expensive form of contaminated organics which go to landfill if you have contamination there," she said.

The first collections are expected to begin in early October with a commercial composter to process the material to be sold. 

Click this link to see the article online .ABC News Article

Spring just keeps going!

With all the wet weather, my garden is continuing to grow
rapidly. The 240L ventilated wheelie bin is proving to be a great asset
for wheeling around the garden as I trim roses, olive trees and vines which are
all flourishing. I have no trouble filling the bin each fortnight and it
helps me keep on top of the weeds. The kitchen ventilated bench top bin
makes source separating food waste so easy, the family have just switched to
the new waste system right away. It is all so easy, I wish we had it
years ago!
 
 

Welcome to our Eenee Designs Blog

Check this blog for the latest info on our Eenee Organics Recycling Service.  Feel free to post a comment and let us know your thoughts.  We will be adding suggestions and tips to help you get the most out of your service,  along with any interesting information.