The management and team at Gaia EnviroTech are excited to announce a proposal to work with the Southern Grampians Shire Council to further explore an organic waste processing facility in Hamilton with Council committed to the project, moving to negotiate a seven-year contract. The seven-year service agreement, valued at up to $6.5 million, will see Gaia deploy eight of its proprietary, high-tech, In-Vessel Rapid Composting (IVRC) systems to process both food and garden organics (FOGO) and effluent waste from the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange. The organic waste processing facility will be installed at the Hamilton Transfer Station, providing significant benefits to the community by reducing costs, reducing waste trucking distances (and associated emissions) and retaining much needed nutrients in the region for market gardeners and agriculturists.
Gaia’s fully enclosed In-Vessel Rapid Composting system significantly accelerates the composting process while minimising environmental impacts. The system effectively reduces odours, prevents leachate and pest access, and avoids the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere.
Each compost batch is pasteurised and audited to ensure it meets Australian standards. The heat cycling process sanitises the organic material, eliminating pathogens and producing a high-quality compost ideal for both agricultural and community use. By keeping the compost local, the process supports community sustainability goals and supports the regional farming industry.
“This project is a major step forward for sustainable waste management in our region,” said Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin. “We also have a ready-made market for high-quality compost in our agriculture and farming sector, so investing into this infrastructure to create a usable product and generate income back into the community is a smart, win-win solution.”
Gaia’s General Manager – Sales & Commercial, David Anderson said that “We’re excited to partner with Southern Grampians Shire Council on this project. Our goal has always been to deliver localised, sustainable organics solutions, and this project represents the future of decentralised waste management. It’s not just about processing waste, it’s about creating value and reducing environmental impacts in a practical and scalable way.”
Once operational, the In-Vessel Rapid Composting systems are expected to process over 7,000 tonnes of organic waste annually, delivering significant environmental and economic benefits. The project is anticipated to reduce waste transport costs and emissions and generate annual savings of between $150,000 and $200,000 for the Council.
This will be Gaia’s largest regional FOGO processing facility to date, representing a major milestone in the company’s commitment to innovative, localised organic waste solutions.
Under Gaia’s unique service model, the composting infrastructure is fully funded and delivered by Gaia, removing the capital burden from councils. Gaia will also manage ongoing operations and maintenance, supported by advanced remote monitoring to ensure consistent compost quality.
About Gaia EnviroTech
Gaia EnviroTech, based in Ballarat, Victoria, provides automated waste management services that are both innovative and sustainable. With its in-house engineering capability and biolab facility, the company has developed modular and flexible solutions that can be tailored to specific needs. Gaia’s aim is to decarbonise the food manufacturing, waste processing, and intensive agriculture industries through a distributed systems approach and producing renewable biogas and diverting organic waste from landfill. These outcomes are good for communities and good for the environment.
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