Love Food Hate Waste

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Reducing food waste

When we audited some kerbside Council rubbish bags in 2021 we found that organic matter comprised just over 60 per cent of the weight going to landfill. Kitchen food waste made up 86 per cent of that organic material. When food scraps break down in landfill they give off greenhouse gases such as methane, which are not good for the environment.

Getting food scraps out of landfill and collected through the Council kerbside service to make compost gets the goodness back into the soil, where it belongs.

Our Council introduced food scrap bins into our kerbside collection in September 2023, and we know a lot of our community also compost which is fantastic.

Although it’s great to have these options for diverting food scraps from landfill – is there something more your household could be doing to reduce your food scraps altogether? 

Check out our partners the Love Food Hate Waste website for tips.

Composting

If you are not in the area of kerbside service for food scraps collection, or if you prefer to manage your food scraps yourself, composting at home is a great way to ensure waste is minimised and nutrients return to the soil.

You can compost the majority of your kitchen scraps. Fruit and vegetable peels, leftover food, eggshells and tea bags are all compostable items.

You can purchase compost bins from most hardware stores in our district. Alternatively, you could build your own compost bin out of plastic bins or pallets or simply have a compost heap. 

Tips for composting: 

  • Keep a small compost bin or container under your sink to easily dispose of scraps and peels and when that is full take it out to your compost bin or compost heap. 
  • Add leaves, sticks, twigs and newspaper to help your compost break down easier. 
  • When your compost has started to break down (this can take up to six weeks), mix it in your garden soil as fertilizer to help your plants grow. 

What about greenwaste?  

Greenwaste can be dropped off at your local Refuse or Recycling Transfer Station or you can contact a private greenwaste collection company to arrange a collection service

 

 

 

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