Reliance Compost has, over the last 12 years in its service to the City of Cape Town, saved over 12 million cubic meters of landfill space through the composting of garden refuse. They have now teamed up with the Corona Family Trust to rehabilitate several hundred hectares of depleted soil with the ultimate objective of building an Organic Waste Recycling facility and an Agricultural Division.
Current activities on the farm property includes, livestock grazing and the cultivation of vineyards. On selected areas of the farm the soils have been augmented with organic compost. Several other areas on the farm are in different stages of the soil augmentation process. The improvement of the soils is ongoing.
Over 400 hectares of depleted soil is currently being rehabilitated after decades of mining, sand and gravel. The first phase of the Corona project yielded 14 hectares of table grapes planted and more than 50 new jobs created. . Another 50- 80 Ha will be planted to citrus, vines and olives this year, and as much is planned for 2016. A large scale plant and tree nursery on the farm is already growing over 30 000 plants to fulfill the replanting program.
The Organic Waste Recycling Facility will continue to process organic waste from the City as well as private sources to generate energy and compost.
Another notable outcome of the Corona Farm project is the redistribution of agricultural land to new young farmers who otherwise would not have been able to live their dreams. Each individual will be mentored for up to five years until they show success at farming their unit before the title deeds are handed over.
2015 at Reliance Compost has been dedicated to replenish and rehabilitate the soils in and around the Cape through the different initiatives and projects they are involved in and have invited local communities to join the compost challenge for the future of our environment.