SIX months ago, when Gillian Black joined the ShareWaste initiative and opened her compost bins to the locals, she had no idea she\u2019d save one tonne of scraps from landfill.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was surprised without a doubt, I thought we might get a tonne within a year but not within six months, I think that\u2019s phenomenal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
ShareWaste is a free web app that connects composters to those wanting to donate green waste and since joining has seen Gillian receive a myriad of scraps since July.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe drop offs have increased, not really via the ShareWaste app, but people driving past or by word of mouth and seeing they can drop things off,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been pretty regular, pretty constant and when I do post, when we\u2019ve hit a milestone more people are aware and more people drop off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Black said at this point she was not affiliated with any local primary schools but hoped they might get the ShareWaste app and start collecting their own scraps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping local schools come on board in their own community and they\u2019ll be able to get scraps for their own compost.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact a tonne of scraps has been composted means it doesn\u2019t fill up landfill. When you send this sort of stuff, it creates methane gas but when you compost it in your own garden, it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a much more environmentally friendly way of breaking it down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Black said she envisioned a system where she would receive scraps from the community, compost them and grow produce which she would eventually redistribute.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis summer I\u2019ve been giving people produce from my garden. The circle I imagined would happen is starting to work of people giving to me and me giving back to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m more surprised than proud but I\u2019m pleased, obviously and blown away by how much waste we\u2019ve saved.\u201d<\/p>\n
It seems the feeling is mutual with the Share Waste app creators contacting Gillian to let her know they\u2019ve now got a photo of her on their wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Bellarine Peninsula is tiny compared to the composters in Melbourne and thousands in Sydney.<\/p>\n
They were blown away by how much I\u2019ve received,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we all save a little bit of waste that adds up to thousands of tonnes. Some people have said they\u2019re worried they\u2019re only giving me a tiny bit but it all matters.<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t have a big bit without all these little bits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gillian said she is happy to answer any questions and can be contacted via Facebook.<\/p>\n
For more information on the ShareWaste initiative, head to sharewaste.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SIX months ago, when Gillian Black joined the ShareWaste initiative and opened her compost bins to the locals, she had no idea she\u2019d save one tonne of scraps from landfill. \u201cI was surprised without a doubt, I thought we might get a tonne within a year but not within six months, I think that\u2019s phenomenal,\u201d […]<\/p>\n