In a bid to become more eco-friendly, a worm farm has been delivered to the Adelaide Convention Centre, which is intended to process up to 350kg of organic waste weekly.

The solar-powered ‘organic digester,’ which is home to up to 800,000 worms, is one of the measures implemented by the Centre to fulfil its ‘Gold Service, Green Attitude’ philosophy.

A drought-tolerant garden, as well as a ‘Go for Green’ conference package, are some of the other environmentally-propelled initiatives of the Centre.

The ‘Go for Green’ conference claims to be an Australian first, which allows convention organisers to both reduce and offset carbon emissions that result from their event.

This package has been chosen by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for its National Rural Financial Counselling Conference, which will utilise renewable energy, recycled notepaper, low food mile catering, and provide a $5 donation for each of the 180 attending delegates to Trees for Life’s Carbon Neutral Program.
“Adelaide is one of the greenest cities in Australia, committed to limiting the State's greenhouse gas emissions by 108% of 1990 levels before 2012 and to 40% of 1990 levels by 2050,” Adelaide Convention Centre Chief Executive Alec Gilbert says.
He acknowledged that “Promoting a green convention centre in a green city is a powerful combination, further establishing Adelaide’s reputation as Australia’s Convention City.”

The disposal of leftover food from the thousands of meals served at the convention will be undertaken through the worm farm, and will add to the monthly tally of 10 cubic metres of paper being recycled and seven tonnes of food scrap compost in Biobins.

The Centre also boasts an Environmental Committee, which reports directly to Gilbert, and is required to persistently seek options to minimise waste and ensure environmentally-friendly practice continues at the Centre.

As Gilbert notes, the Centre is “committed to creating a meeting and events industry that is both sustainable and responsible and the worm farm, drought tolerant garden and Go for Green packages are examples of ways we are achieving this.”