From green waste
to sweet potatoes
Customer Story: Australia
Good composting in “down under”. Thanks to its own composting plant, sweet potato producer Greensill Farming has plenty of fertilizer for its fields. Komptech is a big part of the effort.
Image: The Komptech Topturn can moisten the windrow with water as it turns it – a benefit that Peter Greensill greatly appreciates.
Image rights: © Green Solutions Wide Bay
Greensill Farming is all in for sustainability. As one of the biggest grower of sweet potatoes in Australia, Greensill Farming set up its own subsidiary, called Green Solutions Wide Bay, for the large-scale processing of green waste into compost. This has proven to be a win-win situation for the company and the region. The plant converts biomass, provided by the community of Bundaberg, into high-quality compost, which in turn supplies key nutrients to the company’s own sweet potato and sugar cane fields. And what does this have to do with Komptech? Komptech Area Sales Manager Alexander Popko, who is responsible for the Australian market, explains: “Komptech machines are an important factor in the success of one of Australia‘s largest sweet potato grower. Australian soils are typically nutrient-poor, so our composting machines make an effective contribution to local agriculture.” The welcome result is that these Austrian machines not only improve Australian harvests, but also reduce environmental impact.
„With Komptech machines farmers are able to not just maximize their productivity, but also promote sustainable practices.“
Alexander Popko
Komptech Area Sales Manager
for the Australian market
A KOMPTECH TRIO ON THE JOB
To compost the green waste it gets (gardening waste, lawn cuttings, logs, branches and the like) Green Solutions Wide Bay uses a mobile Crambo Direct 5200 shredder, Topturn X55 compost turner and Nemus 2700 drum screen. This Komptech dream team handles a major portion of the work. The waste is shredded by the Crambo and then piled in windrows where it is turned by the Topturn, before going to the Nemus for screening to the desired fine grain.
From green cuttings to compost
Why did Greensill Farming and its subsidiary Green Solutions Wide Bay decide to go with machines all the way from Austria? The answer is not long in coming: “The Crambo shreds even big, bulky items problem-free. The Topturn is remarkably fast, turning a 100 metre windrow in just 6 minutes, and that plus the dependable drum screen show us that a lot of thought and expertise go into the development of Komptech machines,” says Peter Greensill, Managing Director of Greensill Farming. The company is constantly working on implementing innovative ideas and reducing its CO2 footprint. Peter Greensill adds, “Reclaiming green waste and returning it to agriculture as compost improves and protects the soil, air and water.”
„Organic green waste is rich in nutrients and is great for improving soil.“
Peter Greensill
Managing Director of
Greensill Farming
SUSTAINABILITY AT SCHOOL
The importance of the environment to this Antipodean sweet potato and sugar cane grower can also be seen in its school projects. Under the slogan “Sustainable Schools” Greensill Farming provides participating schools with high-quality compost which students can use for growing vegetables. And so, even here on the other side of the world, Komptech’s innovative machines support adults and kids alike.
Image: Peter Greensill from Greensill Farming
Image rights: Green Solutions Wide Bay
This is the online version of the article “Komptech in Australia: From green waste to sweet potatoes” from the Komptech magazine Opportunity / Issue No. 4 (2025) ↗
Image rights: All images © Komptech GmbH where not otherwise indicated.
No liability accepted for changes or errors.
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