$1.7 million of State Government grants to help keep food waste out of landfill
Food waste makes up 40 per cent of what ends up in landfill – even though it can go in the green bin. The State Government is funding new council programs to help change that.
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More food waste will avoid being sent to landfill under new plans being funded by the State Government.
The $1.7 million worth of grant funding will help 17 councils extend or roll out programs encouraging people to put food waste in their green bins, such as kitchen caddies, and conduct research.
That includes creating and trialing other recycling programs and studies, such as weekly green bin collection.
Subsidies have been given to 22 regional councils to cover costs associated with transporting recyclable waste.
Environment Minister David Speirs said food waste was “the single largest remaining area for improvement” in recycling and waste processing.
“Improved waste management is not only good for the environment, but it contributes to South Australia’s economic growth by creating jobs and developing new business opportunities to recycle and reuse our resources right here in South Australia,” Mr Speirs said.
“By supporting councils to improve their collection of food waste we can lower waste management costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a valuable resource like compost.”
He also said transport costs had “long been recognised as a barrier” to regional councils taking recycling seriously.
The Advertiser last year revealed that more than 40 per cent of all waste, by weight, in Adelaide rubbish bins, was food waste that could have been put in green bins.
Disposing of that food waste correctly could have saved ratepayers more than $10 million in the solid waste levy this financial year.