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Food waste recycling
From 1 July 2020, residents will be able to include food scraps in their fortnightly garden waste bin.
What can go in your garden waste bin?
What can't go in your garden waste bin?
The following items cannot be composted at the composting facility. Please ensure they do not end up in your garden waste bin.
- Plastic bags and plastic packaging (including bags, cling wrap, ties)
- Dog or cat droppings
- Kitty litter
- Household garbage and cigarette butts
- Nappies and baby wipes
- Coffee pods and disposable coffee cups
- Tea bags (with a staple or plastic tag)
- Plant pots
- Tree stumps and ash
- Vacuum dust
- Hair (including pet hair)
- Paper plates and coffee cups
- Wooden icy pole sticks
- Tennis balls
- Metal, glass and plastic recyclables
- Sharps, medicines, batteries and toys
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of a food and garden waste collection service?
- It will reduce the amount of organic material (food scraps and garden waste) entering landfill - saving landfill space and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- It will reduce the amount of waste that goes into your garbage bin.
- It will produce a quality compost product.
- It will save money on rising landfill costs.
Will my garden waste bin still be emptied fortnightly?
Yes, your garden waste bin will continue to be emptied fortnightly on the same day.
Where will the collected food and garden waste be taken to?
The food waste and organics material will be transported to SUEZ green waste facility Epping.
What will happen to the collected food and garden waste?
The food and garden waste will be mulched together by a professional composting facility, so it will be broken down via a natural process. It will then be available to purchase as a soil fertiliser.
If I don’t have a garden waste bin, how do I get one?
You can order a garden waste bin online or by calling us on 9217 2170.
Do I need to pay for a garden waste bin?
Yes, you can opt in to have a garden waste bin for a small annual fee of $77. To order a garden waste bin, order online or call us on 9217 2170.
What if I’m a tenant? Can I get a garden waste bin?
If you are a tenant, talk to your landlord, property manager or agent if you would like a garden waste bin. Your landlord will need to give their permission and contact us to order the bin.
Will the cost of the garden waste bin service increase?
Not at this stage. The annual collection service price will remain the same for the 2020/21 financial year.
By recycling food in our green waste bin, does Council save money with less going to landfill?
We are paying for the extra cost of recycling food waste. So, although we will save money by not sending it to landfill, we will have to pay the processing costs on the food waste in the garden waste bin.
Will Council supply compostable bags to put the food waste in?
Yes, Council will supply a kitchen caddy and a roll of compostable bin liners for you to use.
Click here to opt out of receiving the caddy and bin liners.
I already compost my food scraps and garden waste at home. Can’t I just keep doing this?
If you already compost your food scraps at home, that’s great and we encourage you to continue.
A food and garden organics collection service allows you to easily dispose of a larger variety of food scraps and garden waste than you would be able to compost in a home composting system.
It can also take organic material that does not easily break down or that needs to be chopped up into smaller pieces at home such as meat, fish, bones, corn cobs, fruit stones and watermelon skins.