Managing Organic Residues at Wildlife Park Diverting, Collecting and Using Organics from David Fleay Wildlife Park

Sustainable Resource Recovery David Fleay Wildlife Park Case Study Managing Organic Residues at Wildlife Park Diverting, Collecting and Using Organics from David Fleay Wildlife Park

BiobiN® Technology Enables Sustainable Waste Management at Wildlife Park

David Fleay Wildlife Park Reducing Waste As the owner of the Park, the Environmental Protection Agency In the 1950’s David Fleay, a Although the David Fleay Wildlife (EPA) wanted to set a positive zoologist, botanist and educator Park is not a tourist attraction with example in reducing the amount of from Victoria established Fleay’s high visitor numbers, it still waste going to landfill, while Fauna Reserve at West Burleigh. generated considerable waste improving resource recovery. As To ensure the Fleay’s sanctuary quantities. Paper and cardboard 70% of waste was comprised of could survive intact, the land was was recycled and tree trimmings organic residues, this goal could be sold to the Queensland and other woody vegetation most effectively achieved by Government for a nominal amount residues were chipped and used as segregating these compounds, in the early 1980’s. The sanctuary mulch in the Park. Despite these which would be subsequently was redeveloped, and later re- efforts, the Park still landfilled more composted and used beneficially for named into David Fleay Wildlife than 25,000 kg of waste per year, land management purposes. Park in honour of its founder. 70% of which was organic and Today, the Park is managed by the biodegradable. These components Composting is the Solution Queensland Parks and Wildlife comprised mainly bedding material Service and is used for community from animal enclosures and leftover On-site composting and use of the education, ecotourism, wildlife animal feed, but also food scraps generated compost inside the Park conservation, care for sick and from the cafeteria. would have been the most injured wildlife, and research. environmentally friendly way of dealing with the organic residues

generated at the Park. However, food scraps from the kiosk, and spent on waste disposal versus lack of space, equipment and shredded paper and cardboard. money that is spent on recycling labour required for undertaking on- Once the BiobiN® was in place, and beneficial resource use. site composting prevented this these materials were no longer approach from being realised. taken to landfill but collected in the Ongoing Use of BiobiN® BiobiN® and then composted. Consequently, the segregated Based on results of the five-month organic residues had to be taken to trial phase, and the support the a commercial composting facility for organics recycling system received processing. from staff at the David Fleay Wildlife Park, the EPA decided to use the ® Advanced Collection & On- BiobiN at the Park on a permanent basis. In doing so, the EPA and the site Storage David Fleay Wildlife Park set a As no commercial composting positive example for Queensland facility was in close proximity to the and Australia and demonstrated how easy it can be to recycle Park, a system had to be found that ® allowed the clean, safe and The nine cubic meter BiobiN had to organics and significantly reduce unobtrusive collection and be emptied once every 50 to 60 the amount of waste going to prolonged storage of organic days. The aeration system ensured landfill. residues. The BiobiN®, a large that no odours were generated ® aerated container that initiates the during the prolonged storage Other Uses for the BiobiN composting process and effectively period. Therefore, staff at the Park Since its invention, the BiobiN® has eliminates odour from putrescible maintained their enthusiasm for this proven itself as an effective and waste seemed to be the ideal system and continued to use it. economically viable option for the solution for the Park. odour-free collection of commercial Benefits & Costs organic residues. Currently, some The five-month trial demonstrated 160 BiobiN® units are used in that use of the BiobiN® enabled the commercial sectors such as the David Fleay Wildlife Park to reduce following: the volume of waste going to landfill by around 70% (or approximately - Shopping centres 16,000kg per annum), realising - Greengrocers savings of about $3,000 per annum. - Food processing - Fast food outlets & hospitality However, capital and maintenance - Holiday resorts costs for the BiobiN®, as well as - Schools expenses for transporting and - Island communities The EPA decided to use the composting the organic materials - Chicken production & processing ® BiobiN on a trial basis in order to resulted in additional costs (ca. confirm its capabilities and $5,000) that exceeded savings and Companies that are using the determine its costs and benefits. hence increased total annual waste BiobiN® include for example Consequently, a nine cubic meter management costs. Nevertheless, McDonalds (Adelaide), Coles ® BiobiN was installed at the Park, waste disposal costs can be (Melbourne), Colonades Shopping being comprised of the enclosed reduced further through improved Centre (Adelaide), Arrnotts Biscuits container and the aeration system recycling activities (e.g. drink (Sydney), and Southern Burrumundi (pump, condenser, bio-filter). containers) and reduced waste (McLaren Vale). collection frequency. Trialling and Testing Further information Using the BiobiN® at the David An initial audit estimated that the ® Fleay Wildlife Park reduced waste BiobiN Technologies Pty Ltd Park disposed more than 25,000kg going to landfill by some 70%, while PO Box 66 of waste to landfill every year. The also significantly increasing the Willunga, SA 5172 waste contained around 70% Park’s recycling rate. These waste Ph: 08 - 8556 5295 organic residues, including left-over reduction measures fundamentally [email protected] animal feed, animal bedding and change the ratio of money that is droppings, fruit and veggie off-cuts,