Sustainability
Organic Waste

Compost

All food waste and cardboard are composted through our commercial-grade On-Site Composting Apparatus (OSCA), installed in 2016. It replaced older in-ground composting systems, which weren’t suitable for Lady Elliot Island’s sandy, groundwater-reliant soils.

When organic waste breaks down in landfill, it releases methane—a greenhouse gas up to 36 times more potent than CO₂. But when we compost, we avoid producing methane and turn food scraps, cardboard, and plant matter into nutrient-rich soil that helps our island forest grow and store carbon in the ground, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere.

By composting, we reduce emissions, protect wildlife, and give back to the land.

Our impact in the 2023/2024 Financial Year

54 tonnes of compost was produced in 2023/2024 FY. 103 tonnes of CO2e avoided. That’s equivalent to taking 22 cars off the road for a year

Nearly 100,000L of compost was produced in 2023/2024 FY
Used for revegetation program

  • Keeps waste out of landfill
  • Supports carbon sequestration through healthier soil
  • Avoids methane production
By ensuring that all food waste is returned to the kitchen to be composted, you can help us keep waste away from wildlife and help us compost which reduces methane and will help our forest sequester atmospheric carbon!