By Renee Wood
A Coldstream resident is looking to help locals and businesses cut down their waste by starting a compost revolution.
Beee Mallia is offering to collect green waste for free to give back to the community and environment and to help reduce carbon emissions.
“I believe that no food should ever be in the bin and everything can be repurposed and then recreated into something more beautiful like soil,” Beee said.
“During these uncertain times I just wanted to offer something to the community, to think about something positive and a way I can give back.”
Beee put the call out on social media last week and visited local cafes.
Healesville cafes Chachi Yarra Valley and Willow and Jackson have already signed up to work with Beee.
“We really want to work towards becoming a carbon neutral restaurant, that was one of our original mission statement,” Chachi co-owner Themiya Weragoda said.
Themiya said during general trade the café would fill one 180 litre bin of green waste a week.
“We already started composting our own for a little while, but ran into trouble with the volume of green waste we produce and we couldn’t compost all of that at home.
“So Bee’s come along and offered to take it all the way and make it into amazing new soil that’s going to be used to grow herbs and vegetables, which is very exciting.
According to the Federal Environment Department, around 13 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is created by organic waste going to landfill, equating to around three per cent of the country’s total emissions.
“We don’t have many other options currently. I know for businesses they have to pay for their waste services and it’s disheartening for them to just throw it out,” Beee said.
When restrictions subside, Beee hopes to one day set up a drop off collection at her farm along the Maroondah Highway for residents to drop off their food waste.
“For me, it’s the passion for the environment and connecting community and creating a bit of a network where we become more resilient and responsible for our actions.”
If you’d like to know more, contact Beee at Planb.indulgence@gmail.com
