Discussions of sustainability commonly mention "closed loop systems" - recycling, treating or composting waste products to turn them into valuable nutrients for the crops, rather than letting them pollute and degrade the soil, air and water. Waste management is a huge issue that needs addressing around the world, so I was excited to learn that we here in Bundaberg are already well on our way. Thanks to our new member Carol for telling us about Graham and Kate Campbell of Camreay Holdings, who are closing the loop for Bundaberg. This is from Camreay's website:

"Camreay Holdings is an innovative company that believes in beneficial reuse recycling. By making a waste product into an environmentally safe, nutrient rich product the community can benefit from knowing that their footprint is being recycled in the best possible way... Graham and Kate have been recycling effluent water from Thabeban Sewage Treatment plant successfully (and were the first in Queensland to do so commercially) for the past 16 years. Recycled effluent water has been used successfully on sugar cane increasing productivity and of late Sunflowers and further crops of grain are being planned... The economic downturn in the Sugar industry had been the force in seeking out alternative fertilizer/soil conditioners in the production of sugar cane when Graham & Kate started using biosolids on their ground in lieu of traditional fertilizer. This proved extremely successful and after winning the contract from the Bundaberg City Council to utilize the biosolids from different Sewage Treatment Plants Camreay now land apply biosolids from the Millbank plant and compost with sugar cane the biosolids from East Sewage Treatment Plant. Working together with the operators from the treatment plants a high quality of biosolids is produced to effectively condition the soil and as a base for Camreays nutrient rich compost suitable for compost tea, the home gardener and agriculture use."

Essentially the Campbells take Bundaberg's waste and turn it into a safe, valuable agricultural fertilizer, and bagged compost for the home gardener! The Soil Foodweb Institute of Australia has analysed their compost (PDF) and determined it to be of high quality. Not only that, by using their own product on their sunflower, maize and sugar cane crop they've found that they need little to no pesticides or herbicides! You can purchase Camreay's compost for $6/bag at the Shalom markets on Sundays - well worth the cost to support an environmentally responsible local business, play a part in reusing your own waste, and provide a nutrient-rich boost to your garden! When we visited the Campbells yesterday they also told us they're in the process of designing and constructing an artificial wetland to naturally treat the effluent water they bring in, making it nearly of drinking water quality.

I've updated the article list for the guide to reflect two new additions: the water conservation interview with Jacques Rohen and a planned interview with Graham and Kate Campbell of Camreay Holdings - they truly have become an eco-friendly farm. The article will be a fascinating read for anyone who sees the importance in closing the loop.

at the time of this writing Camreay's website is down, but it is normally at www.camreay.com.au - keep checking back.