Image source: Veolia. William (Billy) FeeneyEco Mob is an 100% Australia Indigenous owned and operated business, recycling food waste and turning your leftovers into a sustainable organic product.
Darwin’s first commercial food organics recovery facility transforms food leftovers into high-quality compost. Aligned with UNSDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Net-Zero Waste, the facility partners with Veolia and the Australian Department of Defence.
From banana peels to stale bread and wilted spinach, food waste is a common issue for households across Australia. Each year, more than seven million tonnes of food is discarded nationwide, resulting in an economic loss of $36.6 billion.
“It’s all about the circular economy,” said Feeny. “We harvest fruit, consume it, recycle the scraps, and return the nutrients to the soil to help grow more fruit.”
Thousands of Kilograms Diverted from Landfills
Despite being in its early stages, EcoMob currently processes around three tonnes of food waste each week—a number Feeny expects to increase quickly.
“Right now, a significant portion of our food waste comes from defence bases,” he explained. “Veolia collects it from those sites and brings it to our facility for processing.”
Upon arrival, the food scraps undergo sorting to remove any non-organic materials. The cleaned scraps are then placed into a dehydration machine, where heat, air, and rotating paddles transform them into a soil-like material.
“Surprisingly, it has a pleasant, broth-like aroma,” Feeny added.
A Fertiliser with Potential for Farms and Aquaculture
Researchers from the Northern Hub, an organization dedicated to drought resilience, are assessing organic material to understand its nutrient profile and potential applications across various industries.
Regional soil coordinator Emily Hinds shared promising preliminary findings. “We’re planning further trials on farmland to understand how the product improves soil health and crop yields over time,” she said. “Initially, we’re considering using it on mango and tree crops, which could reduce input costs for local farmers and offer a sustainable, locally sourced alternative.”
EcoMob is also exploring the possibility of repurposing the product as feed for livestock and aquaculture, including chickens, ducks, fish, and prawns. “I prefer not to call it waste—it’s a resource,” Feeny stated. “This material has the potential to create multiple valuable products.”
Expanding Opportunities and Building Local Impact
EcoMob is the first business of its kind in the Northern Territory. Looking ahead, Feeny envisions expanding the enterprise throughout the region, including remote Indigenous communities, where the initiative could generate local employment opportunities.
Troy Garling from the Northern Hub praised Feeny’s leadership and the project’s impact.
EcoMob’s work exemplifies how sustainable innovation can reduce waste, enrich soil, and support local industries, all while contributing to a circular economy.
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