Cirque du Soil in Bundoora is one of six projects sharing in $1.6 million through the state government’s Recycling Victoria Research and Development Fund in order to boost the value of recycled organics and support agriculture.
Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced $3.6 million to help put household garden waste and food scraps to use in Victoria’s farms, parks and gardens.
This project seeks to develop fertiliser products derived from food waste diverted from landfill through rigorous soil and plant testing trials.
Cirque du Soil founder and managing director Jean Darling said the news of the funding was “very exciting.”
“We’ve only just found out who the other grant recipients are so we’re a small startup amongst a lot of big companies, with the big boys so it’s actually a really nice feeling,” Ms Darling said.
The social enterprise will put the funding towards their product innovation.
“We hope that this can become more than just a bag of soil
“We’re hoping to be able to make this into something that could disrupt construction materials…and we will be looking at commercialising this product into Bunnings if possible.”
