Council investigates food and organic waste processing for households living in Brimbank

Photo: Brimbank City Council

Brimbank Mayor Cr Lucinda Congreve said Council would prepare a report on the options available to support Brimbank households to manage their food and garden organic waste, including approximate costs and benefits, and community education and engagement.

“The introduction of a kerbside food and garden organic collection service is a medium term action under the new Waste, Recycling, and Litter Strategy 2018-2028.

“Supporting backyard composting can complement a future kerbside collection of food and garden organics, by reducing the quantity of material that must be collected, transported and processed.

“It’s very timely, as managing waste and methods of recycling is a subject of increasing interest and one that our community cares about strongly.

“Council takes seriously its role in helping the community to live and work in an environmentally sustainable manner,” Cr Congreve said.

A Notice of Motion was moved by Cr Kim Thien Truong at this week’s Ordinary Council Meeting (20 November 2018), requesting that Council prepare a number of options for Brimbank households to recycle their food and organic waste.

“The management of organic food and garden waste is an important topic and a step in the right direction for the environment.

“Around half of our household garbage is made up of food and garden waste. Council currently collects garden organic waste from around half of all households. However, Council does not collect any food waste.

“We know that reducing levels of waste from our kitchens and gardens can contribute to reducing overall waste going to landfill.

“Rather than putting this type of waste in the bin, a household organic processing system creates a useful product for the garden that helps to retain water and nutrients to build resilience to drought.

“The organics in landfill break down in a way that can create greenhouse gasses, including methane, which affect air quality and contribute to climate change.

“A program like this would help encourage a love of gardening in the community, which is a healthy and popular activity, especially for senior residents. It’s important that we support and educate the community to get involved in ways that help the environment,” Cr Truong said.