Eco Mob: Pioneering Food Waste Management in Darwin with enrich360 Dehydrators

Eco Mob's journey began in March 2024 with a proof-of-concept phase, focused on transitioning food waste processing from onsite at Darwin's Defence sites to a centralised facility. Within just a few months, the success of this pilot allowed Eco Mob to expand its operations, adding larger dehydrators and significantly increasing its capacity to divert more food waste from landfills.

What Does Success Look Like?

Diversion Rate and Environmental Impact:

In just 12 weeks of operation, Eco Mob’s Darwin facility diverted 25,000 kg of food waste from landfill, demonstrating the facility’s ability to handle significant volumes of waste effectively and sustainably.

Environmental Outcomes:

1. Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By diverting over 25,000 kg of food waste, Eco Mob prevented approximately 47.5 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions, which is comparable to the environmental benefit of growing 1,188 trees for one year.
2. Nutrient-Rich Output: The facility produced 5,017 kg of nutrient-rich soil amendment, offering a valuable resource to support local agriculture and land regeneration efforts.
3. Potable Water Generation: The dehydration process also produced over 20,000 litres of potable water—enough to water a garden or lawn for around 33.5 hours. This water serves as an additional benefit, supporting conservation efforts and providing a resource for irrigation or site maintenance.
4. Resource Efficiency: By converting food waste into valuable outputs such as soil amendment and potable water, Eco Mob’s facility exemplifies resource efficiency. This approach advances the principles of a circular economy by minimising waste and maximising utility.

The Path Forward

The success of Eco Mob’s proof of concept demonstrates not only the operational feasibility of scaling up the project but also its significant environmental benefits. As demand for their services grows, Eco Mob is poised to expand further.

Next Steps for Eco Mob:

1. Add More Capacity: Eco Mob is ready to launch a newly acquired 1,100-litre unit with the support of enrich360. This will increase the daily processing capacity to 1,700 litres of food waste per day. Further expansion plans include securing additional dehydrators to manage even larger volumes of food waste.
2. Optimise Operations: The enterprise will continue to monitor and reduce contamination levels, ensuring the dehydration process remains effective and environmentally friendly.
3. Scale Up to Meet Demand: As requests for processing services continue to grow, Eco Mob aims to scale up its facility. With operations already running seven days a week, they plan to expand their processing capabilities from 1,900 litres per day to 9,000 litres per day within the next 24 months. This growth will enable Eco Mob to provide food waste solutions not just for defence sites, but for the broader Darwin community as well.

A Model for Sustainability

Eco Mob’s project is a shining example of how Indigenous-led enterprises can drive meaningful environmental change while fostering a circular economy. With plans to expand its food waste processing capacity and meet the needs of the greater Darwin community, Eco Mob is well on its way to transforming local food waste management and creating a sustainable future for generations to come.

‍