Ewen McRae
Food scraps will soon be accepted in green bins in Melton as part of a plan to help halve the amount of household waste sent to landfill.
From July 1, Melton council will accept all food scraps in the kerbside green bin including loose (not bagged) fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, meat, bones, off-cuts and leftovers.
This is in addition to the already accepted garden waste such as grass clippings, branches and weeds.
The move comes after a local audit last year revealed that more than half of the waste thrown into the red bin (landfill waste) by a typical Melton council household was food and garden material.
Melton mayor Lara Carli said diverting waste away from landfill would make a big difference. The new policy comes on the back of recent state government announcements that all Victorian households would have four bins to help with recycling.
“Each of us has the potential to halve the amount of waste we send to landfill by simply throwing our food scraps and garden clippings into the green bin,“ Cr Carli said.
“It’s an easy step towards a greener future.
“We’ll not only be reducing greenhouse gas emissions and relieving pressure on landfill space, we’ll also be helping to create compost that gives back to the earth.”
Council has started a ‘FOGO’ (Food organics. Garden organics) campaign to educate the community about what will soon be accepted in the green kerbside bin, with pop-up information sessions running until July 11.
Households that don’t have a green bin are encouraged to call council to order one.
To find an information session visit melton.vic.gov.au/FOGO.
Ewen McRae
