Food waste recycling

The kitchen caddy and compostable bags are an easy and efficient way of recycling food waste through your green kerbside food organics garden organics (FOGO) bin.

On average, food waste makes up around 40% of household waste. Recycling food waste significantly reduces waste to landfill, saving money and helping our environment.

Food waste placed in your kerbside FOGO bin is turned into nutrient rich compost!

Get your free kitchen caddy and compostable bags

Kitchen caddy kit.

All households within our city are entitled to:

  • One free kitchen caddy.
    If your household does not already have a caddy, you can collect one. You can also return broken caddies to us for replacement and recycling.
  • One free roll of 150 compostable bags per year.
    Additional rolls of bags can be purchased for $10 per roll.

Collect your kitchen caddy and/or compostable bags from Councils office. If you are unable to visit during office hours, please contact us to arrange an alternative pick up option.

How to use your kitchen caddy

Use your caddy in the kitchen either on the bench top or a well-ventilated area.

  1. Line your caddy with a compostable bag or newspaper. Only certified compostable bags (labelled AS 4736 and/or Home Compostable AS 5810) should be used.
  2. Collect food waste and other compostable items such as coffee grounds, tea bags, tissues, paper towel in your kitchen caddy.
  3. After 2-3 days or when the caddy is full, empty the caddy in your green kerbside FOGO bin. This material will then be sent to a commercial composting facility where it will be turned into high quality compost.

Kitchen caddy tips

Worried about smells, flies or pests? Follow these simple tips:

  • Freeze food waste like seafood and meat until your collection day to avoid odours.
  • Let hot food cool down before placing it in your caddy.
  • Paper towel and tissues can be placed into your kitchen caddy and helps absorb moisture.
  • Clean the caddy regularly and let dry out.
  • A tight-fitting lid on your green organics bin will help keep flies and pests away.
  • After emptying your caddy into the green kerbside FOGO bin, place lawn clippings, leaves or shredded paper on the food waste to absorb moisture and reduce odours.

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