Write Solutions Australia

How did WRITE Solutions Australia come about?

WRITE Solutions came about from our founders’ mutual frustration with the waste industry’s lack of education to their clients and the volume of waste – especially organics going to landfill.

Why do you do what you do? What is your mission and vision for the future?

We do what we do to preserve Australia’s beautiful landscape and to help develop a circular, sustainable economy. Our mission is to create a world where waste isn’t wasted and trash becomes a resource.

Composting organic materials at home and in large-scale facilities is part of a growing trend in Australia to better manage and re-use organic material. How does WRITE Solutions Australia fit into Australia’s composting story?

Here in Perth we have made a significant impact composting around 130 tonnes of organic waste per month, and raising awareness for Perth businesses and the community around organic waste and compostable packaging. We are one of the first businesses in Australia to close the loop by capturing compostable packaging from events and cafes and turning it into a resource.

As a compost collection partner, WRITE Solutions Australia is facilitating the waste collection and commercial composting of food waste and compostable packaging. What happens after the waste is collected? What does the composting process look like at WRITE Solutions Australia?

We use the method called Windrow Composting, whereby the organic waste and compostable packaging is combined with carbon sources such as green waste to balance the carbon/nitrogen content. It is then laid out on a concrete pad, aerated, and the moisture and temperature monitored for six weeks. Finally it is sifted into three grades of material.

Have you had to adapt your processes to accept compostable products?

We have certainly adapted our processes to accept compostable packaging as once compostable packaging is added, the collection and processing of organic waste changes dramatically. To accept compostable packaging it is necessary that all other contamination is present only at extremely low percentages, if at all, as the waste cannot be put through a depacker prior to processing. This means far more education, bin monitoring and driver training to prevent the load from being contaminated.

How much compost do you produce in a year?

That is hard to determine as the facility collects waste from other services too such as green waste, bulk organics and liquid waste. Our Organic Revolution service collects currently around 130 tonne per month (as of March 2021).

Do you have to maintain any standards or certifications for the compost?

Yes, the compost is certified organic and goes through a testing process to ensure it meets the criteria.

At the end of the process, what kinds of soil are produced, and where do they end up?

At the end of our process we generally end up with a high quality compost and a lower grade compost. They have a variety of markets from broad acreage to bagged retail. Several of our clients have purchased back compost for their grounds, or retailed bagged compost at their venue.

How do you manage the risk of contamination to organic waste? I.e. non-compostable waste making its way into the waste collection bin.

We have an education program running for up to six weeks with every new customer to help them through the start-up process and eliminate contamination. Further, our drivers are trained to recognise contamination and either pick out the offending items or not tip the bin if too contaminated.

Who are your major customers?

All of our clients are major to us, but if it is approached by volume collected from site the Westfield Shopping Centers, Perth Inflight Catering, Refresh Juice, Squished Juice, Citrus WA, The Camfield, Inglewood Markets, Scarborough Sunset Markets and Yelo Cafes would be some of our larger clients.

Who are your major customers?

Contamination. Contamination. Contamination.

What is the best way for people to advocate for commercial composting in their city?

Businesses should approach their local waste management providers about an organic waste service. If there is no company servicing the city already, the volume of requests will likely instigate research into developing a service. However, if there is no current commercial composter to process the waste it can take a significant period of time (up to a couple of years in some cases) to obtain the necessary licenses to process organic waste.