Abbotsford Convent Foundation

LOCATION Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia

INSTALL DATE January 2020

INDUSTRY Community

Background and Objective

Situated four kilometres from Melbourne ‘s CBD and spread over 16 acres, the Abbotsford Convent with it's 11 historic buildings and gardens is Australia's largest multi-arts precinct. Operated by the Abbotsford Convent Foundation (ACF), a not-for-profit organisation, on behalf of the public, the Convent site includes over 100 studios, two galleries, cafes, a radio station, a school, and an abundance of green open space.

As a popular communal area, the ACF needed to provide a clean and safe environment for its many visitors. With food waste generated from multiple sources and with no formal disposal process, it was placed in general waste bins, leading to increased odour, spillage and vermin levels.

The Green Solution

Increasing ACF's social responsibility towards reducing their impact on the environment and to repurpose their food waste for positive use, the WasteMaster 400 system was installed in January 2020.

Funded by Yarra City Council as part of a grant obtained from Sustainability Victoria, the WasteMaster unit diverts food waste from landfill, reduces truck movements within the council precinct helping to address kerbside congestion of general waste bins.

Positive Outcomes

  • Diversion of 8 .6 tonnes of food waste from landfill in six months since installation

  • Production of 2.8 tonnes of residue thot has been repurposed to create green electricity

  • Residue maintains its colourific / energy value then being repurposed to produce green electricity

  • Reduced waste disposal costs

  • Odourless residue

  • Generation of a site-wide approach to environmental benefits of diverting food waste from landfill

Environmental and Operational Benefits

  • Pathogen free residue, removing the risk of harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria

  • Ability to process food waste on site at a lower power requirement

  • Local and responsive support with monthly reporting from a local Australian company

  • No need for microbes, bacteria, or precious drinking water in the process

“As a multi-faceted site that includes four food and beverage outlets, Abbotsford Convent has found the WasteMaster system enormously beneficial in reducing our levels of organic waste and contributions to landfill while having a significant and positive impact on our environmental footprint and our waste management bottom line. The system is easy to use and very well supported operationally by the WasteMaster team and has been a great addition to our waste management dreams."

Jason Kain, Site Operations Manager, Abbotsford Convent

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