Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- compost / ˈkɒm poʊst / (n.) – rotten or dead plant material that is mixed into soil to improve its quality
Example:To create his own compost, he uses fruit and vegetable peelings.
- botanical / bəˈtæn ɪ kəl / (adj.) – relating to plants or the study of plants
Example:As a botanical researcher, his dream is to explore a forest full of new kinds of plants.
- irrigate / ˈɪr ə ɡeɪt / (v.) – to supply water to land or plants
Example:Farmers have to irrigate their fields well during the hot and dry season.
- pile up / paɪl ʌp / (phrasal v.) – to arrange, gather, or put things into a bunch
Example:He piled up his dirty clothes before he started washing them.
- mulch / mʌltʃ / (n.) – a layer of material, such as leaves, that is spread on the soil surface to protect the soil, keep water in it, and to stop weeds from growing
Example:She is using a thick layer of mulch around her plants to protect them and save water in her garden.
Article
Read the text below.
The City of Greater Geelong is converting the municipality’s green waste into compost, which is then used to grow produce at the botanical gardens. This produce is donated to a local social supermarket to help feed those in need.
Every month, Hamdieh Mohmmadi buys food from this Geelong social supermarket by exchanging vouchers for groceries. “We save money for electricity, fuel and gas and home and kids,” explains Mohmmadi.
Each year, across 57 of Victoria’s 79 councils, around 750,000 tons of organic material are collected from green bins. By turning green waste into compost locally, the City of Greater Geelong is leading the way.
“The waste that we’re creating, rather than going into landfill, is actually creating nutrients, going into food supply, and going back to the residents that we have that are most in need in Geelong,” explains Emma Sinclair of the City of Greater Geelong.
First, it’s manually sorted to remove any contaminants. Next, it’s ground into smaller pieces before a machine is used to mix and irrigate the material. It’s then piled up to mature, after which it’s broken down further and bagged.
“Landfill space is really expensive. We also don’t want to send organic matter to landfill because it generates methane,” explains Andrew Lucas of the City of Greater Geelong.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens is provided with about 2,000 tons of material.
“Those garden beds that have it in it have performed a lot better than the ones that don’t,” says horticulturist Liam Kelly.
Approximately four crates of produce are donated to Geelong Foodshare every two weeks.
Geelong is one of the Victorian councils that received funding from Sustainability Victoria to boost the use of compost made from green waste within the community. The goal is to expand this initiative to other local government areas to help feed those in need.
“The more we can invest in turning those resources back into new products, like composts and like mulch, the better value we get out of those,” concludes Matt Genever of Sustainability Victoria. The state government’s goal is to divert 80% of waste from landfills by 2030.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- The City of Greater Geelong uses green waste to make compost, which then helps grow food for people who need it. What do you think about using waste in this way to help grow food for the community? Discuss.
- What happens to the waste in your community? Would you want a similar project like the one in the City of Greater Geelong to start in your community? How do you think a project like this could help people and the environment? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The process of turning green waste into compost has many steps, like sorting, mixing, and piling. What are everyday activities or hobbies you have that also need you to follow many steps carefully (ex. cooking, building something)? Do you prefer tasks with many steps or tasks without any set steps? Why? Discuss.
- Why do you think some hobbies or games need to follow certain steps or rules? What might happen if someone doesn’t follow them? Discuss.
