Coffee grounds from cafes across the northern suburbs are being used to conserve and improve top soil as part of the Childs Road upgrade.
Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) said the initiative is a first for Victoria’s Big Build – the name given to the state’s network of transport upgrades.
Last week, Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister and Mill Park MP Lily D’Ambrosio and Thomastown MP ronwyn Halfpenny welcomed delivery of nearly one and a half cubic metres of repurposed coffee ground compost to the project site in Mill Park, which will nurture the soil and create greener landscaping around upgraded sections of road and shared user paths.
Used coffee grounds equivalent to just over a quarter of a million lattes will be composted into the road project as the Childs Road upgrade supports this new and innovative process to divert food waste from landfill – totalling almost 9.5 tonnes.
Sixty cubic metres of coffee grinds, sourced by Reground, will be mixed with topsoil during landscaping – boosting nutrient levels within soil to give freshly planted seeds and seedlings the best opportunity to thrive.
On their own, coffee grounds are too acidic to be used straight, but once mixed with other organic matter such as topsoil, they make a fantastic compost mix. They feed the soil with their high levels of carbon content, potassium and nitrogen.
Reground operations manager Julian Bettiol said that thanks to the support of the state government’s Recycling Victoria Communities Fund, the organisation has been able to expand its services and secure meaningful, large-scale partnerships within the circular economy.
“Coffee grounds are such a valuable resource; we are so pleased to be working with ACE and MRPV to demonstrate how our economy is moving towards true circularity. This partnership showcases big industry players teaming up with small local businesses to have a huge impact with sustainability first,” he said.
MRPV planning and environment manager Mamode Osikoya said: “Working with services like Reground demonstrates the role local ingenuity is playing as the construction industry drives this state’s circular economy, paving the way for greener roads throughout Melbourne”.
As part of the road upgrade, more than 160 trees and 27,500 shrubs will be planted at the site as the project powers towards completion.
The Childs Road Upgrade is due to be complete by the end of 2022. The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.
Meanwhile, the inaugural ecologiQ Greener Infrastructure Conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre on September 6-7, bringing together sector leaders to discuss innovation and adoption of the use of recycled materials in transport infrastructure projects and the broader construction sector. Details: bigbuild.vic.gov.au
