Sustainability at Leichhardt Market Place

At the invitation of the Sustainability Action Network, I joined a tour of Leichhardt MarketPlace's sustainability initiatives with the Operations Manager.

The shopping centre has recently installed a pulping system to convert foodscraps (from the foodhall) into a slury which is then transported to the Sutherland shire where a Biodigester converts the slurry into fertiliser pellets and electricity.

More about this process of food scraps to energy:

• The organic pulp is a suitable feedstock for anaerobic digestions, generating biogas for renewable energy generation. In addition, we also take the pulp to an organics recycling facility where it is turned into organic fertiliser. The organic product created from Pulpmaster plays an important role in the life cycle of healthy, organic crops by improving soil conditions and nutrient levels...https://pulpmaster.com.au/how-it-works/

• “Pulpmaster tanker trucks collect the waste when the tank is full.

  “The tanker trucks then deliver the waste to Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant... More details on how fruit and vegetable waste is being converted to power June 8 2016 - 8:34AM
   
• Sydney Water has started a waste-to-energy trial using food waste sourced locally to power Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant.... Utility first food waste to energy plant opens, June 1, 2016 by Waste Management Review http://wastemanagementreview.com.au/utility-first-food-waste-to-energy-plant/
• More on Sydney Water "trial is being conducted to use fruit and vegetable waste at its Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant, and in collaboration with the University of Wollongong, an innovative research project is being undertaken at the Shellharbour Wastewater Treatment Plant, investigating other food waste sources which can be used to generate additional renewable energy production."..History of wastewater treatment in Sydney
  Sydney Water Corporation, https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/wastewater/article/history-of-wastewater-treatment-in-sydney-311574744
  

Card Board Compactor

It was also interesting to see the cardboard compactor.

They have also recently installed a Return and Earn Machine in the staff car park - with three car spaces to allow the community to use the machine.

Small Truck emptying Return and Earn

You can choose to:
1. Get a refund
2. Earn Woolworths cash refund
3. Choose a charity to donate your refund to
The Return & Earn machine can be found at Foster Lane, Leichhardt. Recycling bay parking is available. https://www.marketplaceleichhardt.com.au/return-and-earn.html

Shopping Trolleys 

Apparently Coles Shopping Trolleys are accumulating at the shopping centre. Possibly because people are using them to bring containers to the return and earn - fixing the issue of collecting shopping trolleys - though Marketplace does not have a Coles.. More about Shopping Trolleys

Solar Panels have also ben installed on the Rooftop Carpark.

"we’ll be able to power 30% of the shopping centre using our own renewable energy source and reduce our emissions by 517 tonnes of CO² each year.  This is the equivalent of taking 110 cars off the road or powering 60 local homes every year!" - https://www.marketplaceleichhardt.com.au/solar-panel-installation.html

Smart Sunshine Coast - garbage collection

"This innovative system will remove the need for garbage trucks and wheelie bins in the Maroochydore City Centre, making the city heart more attractive. It will also reduce odours and vermin, whilst reducing the costs of daily street cleaning." https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Council/Planning-and-Projects/Infrastructure-Projects/Automated-Waste-Collection-System