Kingston debates food scrap reuse; Glen Eira leads the way
As Glen Eira Council declares its food waste collection service a success, Kingston Council is considering allowing residents to dispose of food in the garden bin.
Inner East
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A GREEN bin revolution that began in Glen Eira could soon be rolled out in Kingston.
Glen Eira residents have been able to add food scraps — including meat and bones, citrus peel and dairy — to their garden waste bin since May.
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It is processed by Veolia in Dandenong South and converted into high quality compost that is primarily used to improve agricultural soil.
Glen Eira director of Infrastructure, Environment and Leisure Samantha Krull said residents had embraced the change with the council receiving 11,000 orders for free kitchen caddies for the food scraps.
“We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Ms Krull said.
She said 70 per cent of residents surveyed recently said they were likely or very likely to use the food waste recycling service.
Ms Krull said monthly waste volumes to landfill in June and July had dropped by more than 10 per cent compared to the same time last year.
Glen Eira normally sends about 30,000 tonnes of garbage to landfill each year with almost half being food waste.
Ms Krull said it was also much cheaper to send food and garden waste to Veolia than traditional landfill.
Kingston General Manager of City Assets and Environment Daniel Freer said councillors would consider a new waste strategy later this year which included an option to allow residents to put food scraps into the green bin.
Last year the council entered into a new waste contract with Veolia.
Kingston currently recycles about 50 per cent of all waste collected but still sends 30,000 tonnes to landfill each year.
“Around 20 per cent of landfill costs could be saved by diverting food waste from landfill and instead turning it into high-quality compost that can be sold,” Mr Freer said.
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