Geoff Rollinson shovels a load of the donated soil sweetener at the Warrnambool Community Garden, watched by Wannon Water managing director Grant Green (right), Catherine Huf (left), Colleen Rose, Jamie Hayden and Paul Clancy.
WASTE not, want not.
Wannon Water is following the proverb by deciding to donate its organic waste to the Warrnambool Community Garden (WCG) to improve the soil.
WCG convenor Geoff Rollinson yesterday said the partnership was a pleasing result for both parties.
"Rather than put the organic waste into landfill, Wannon Water will reuse it with us," he told The Standard.
"The community garden was fairly close to their offices so it was a viable option. It's a benefit for them to work with a community group like ours and it provides extra compost for the garden."
A compost bin has been added to Wannon Water's general and recyclable waste system at its Gateway Road building to aid the initiative.
The regional urban water corporation will take its "green" bins to WCG's plots for volunteers to process and distribute the organic matter.
"There is a likelihood Wannon Water employees will work at the garden with our volunteers in management of the compost system," Mr Rollinson said.
"One of their goals is to connect with the community and they are certainly achieving that."
The garden plots, on the corner of Grieve Street and Grafton Road, have produced strawberries, sunflowers, corn and other vegetables with the help of donated mulch and manure.
Mr Rollinson said the additional nutrients from Wannon Water's organic waste would be invaluable.
"This project is actually an extension of an existing partnership," he said.
"Wannon Water funded our watering system at the garden and we hope to continue with another one or two ideas in the future."
