TRUCKLOADS of smelly seaweed from Altona beach will no longer be dumped in landfill after Hobsons Bay Council struck a 12-month agreement to turn the waste into liquid fertiliser.
The council will pay Cassa Bio-Tec $176,000 for a year-long trial period. That will be significantly cheaper than the present mode of collection and disposal which costs about $400,000 each year.
Deputy mayor Tony Briffa said the move was an environmentally friendly way of disposing of seaweed.
"We waste a lot of time and money dumping seaweed at Werribee tip.
"Any savings we make can be used to support other council initiatives," Cr Briffa said.
The council's acting works and assets director, Jeff Herz, said the new method of collection might
also reduce the smell caused by a build up of seaweed washed up on the beach.
Instead of being transferred to Werribee, the seaweed would go to Cassa Bio-Tec's centre in Laverton, Mr Herz said. "The quicker transport time will allow the council to remove the seaweed faster, which will reduce the amount of time it is left sitting on the beach."
Mr Herz said Cassa Bio-Tec would sell the seaweed commercially as liquid fertiliser.
The new clean-up method will begin once the council and Cassa Bio-Tec finalise details of the contract.
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