澳大利亚农民日益采用粉碎回收玻璃作为农业肥料，以提高土壤生产力和作物产量[1]。布里斯班新建的一家工厂投资400万澳元，将回收玻璃瓶加工成农业产品，每周向全国农民供应20吨地碎玻璃、粉末和颗粒[1]。这些回收玻璃瓶来自昆士兰州的Containers for Change项目，每个玻璃瓶的回收价格为10澳分[1]。
粉碎玻璃中的硅元素能够释放磷酸盐，使植物根部能够吸收土壤中被固化的养分，从而帮助农民减少化肥使用量[1]。农民报告显示，采用该方法后植物生长和生产力可能改善25-30%[1]。在畜牧方面，效果同样显著——冬季牛的日增重从0.7-0.8公斤提高到1.4-2公斤[1]。这一做法不仅提升了农业产出，还缓解了进口肥料供应短缺的压力[1]。
Australian farmers are increasingly adopting crushed recycled glass as an agricultural fertilizer to enhance soil productivity and crop output.[1] A newly established A$4 million facility in Brisbane processes recycled glass bottles into agricultural products, leveraging the silicon content to protect plants, release locked-up nutrients in soil, and help farmers reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers.[1]
Farmers using the material have reported improvements in plant growth and productivity ranging from 25 to 30 percent.[1] The benefits extend to livestock production as well, with cattle experiencing significant gains in weight.[1] Winter cattle daily weight gain has improved from 0.7 to 0.8 kilograms to 1.4 to 2 kilograms.[1] The initiative also helps address supply shortages of imported fertilizers.[1]
The Brisbane facility supplies the nation's farming community with 20 tonnes of ground glass, powder, and granules per week.[1] The recycled glass bottles originate from Queensland's Containers for Change program, where each glass bottle carries a recycling value of 10 Australian cents.[1] The silicon in the recycled glass releases phosphate, enabling plant roots to absorb previously locked nutrients in the soil.[1]