A local pork producer has been announced as one of the finalists for the NSW Australia Day Environmental Citizen of the Year.
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The Australia Day Council of NSW made the announcement that Blantyre Farms is in the running to win the prize for its sustainable approach to farming.
This is the final stage following their win as Young's Environmental Citizen of the Year award on Australia Day. Blantyre are among 12 finalists in the running to win the overall NSW award to be announced on June 5.
"The whole team at Blantyre try really hard to do the best in our own little patch, doing our bit to preserve the environment, whether it is using food waste or making power from pig poo," Blantyre Farms owner Edwina Beveridge said.
"Recognition for our efforts makes the challenges, persistence and hard work all the more worthwhile."
Mrs Beveridge believes it is an honour and feels really proud to have been recognised by the local community.
"We are really grateful to the Hilltops Council for providing this opportunity and excited about the possibility of recognition on a bigger stage," she said.
Blantyre Farms was nominated for the award for its use of its biogas generators to capture the methane from pig manure making the producers the first farm in the country to be a Carbon Farming Initiative program.
According to Mrs Beveridge by turning the methane into electricity, the farm has cancelled out the farm's entire electricity bill.
The generator also helps create heat for the piglets as well as removing the equivalent of 65,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
Mrs Beveridge said the pork Blantyre produces has a carbon footprint of less than tofu and has significantly reduced the emissions of the farm.
"The methane from our pigs manure no longer enters the environment, it is captured and turned into renewable electricity, which in turn creates less reliance on coal power.
Diverting food waste from landfill avoids the emissions that would be created in the landfill, this waste is now a much wanted resource."