Closing the gap on food waste

MEDIA RELEASE 27 May 2021

Closing the gap on food waste

Council is currently trialling new ways of collecting domestic and commercial food, and green waste throughout parts of the city. This project is supported by Local Government NSW with funding from the NSW Government.

The trial runs from May for four months and the aim of the trial is to identify the best ways to divert food and garden organics from landfill. Diverting this material from landfill allows the nutrients to be converted into usable composts while reducing the amount of greenhouse gases expelled into the atmosphere.

Mayor Bobby Bourke said this is an important initiative that is aimed to look after our environment for future generations and identify our community’s habits with regards to food waste.

“The ‘Closing the gap on food waste’ trial will also guide Bathurst in planning its future waste services,” he said.

A number of households from residential zones in Bathurst have been randomly selected to participate, and a variety of businesses have also been invited to partake.

Household participants will be experiencing a range of changes unique to their trial area. Some areas will be provided with a caddy and a roll of compostable liners to place food items in and carry to the lime green-lidded bin. Other areas of the trial may receive an alternative red-lidded general waste bin and/or have these bins collected fortnightly for the duration of the trial only. Feedback from the participating households will be sought throughout the trial and at its conclusion.

Businesses participating will be provided with dedicated food waste bins for the duration of the trial along side kitchen insert bins.

Throughout the trial the food waste will be composted at ANL at Blayney and will be sent to local farms providing a nutrient rich material to be used in agriculture. At the conclusion of the trial, services for the participating households will return to the standard bin collection schedule.

ENDS
Media contact: Media Officer