Weekly Green Organics Trial
Council is trialling a weekly green organics bin collection for approximately 1,400 households and businesses in Beulah Park and the northern side of Kensington Park.
We're thrilled to announce the extension of this trial until June 30 2025, with the intention of continuing, subject to budget approvals.
Key points
- The trial has been a resounding success, with households embracing green bins for food scraps and organic waste.
- Weekly green bin collection has significantly reduced landfill waste.
- Due to its success, the trial has been extended until 30 June, with plans to continue pending budget approval.
- Most households do not need weekly red landfill bin collection, as their bins are half full or less.
- Collecting organics weekly can save Council money and has environmental benefits.
- Food scraps and garden clippings should go in the green bin.
- The trial is in Beulah Park and northern half of Kensington Park, with green bins collected weekly and red bins fortnightly.
- Find details about the trial on this webpage.
Introduction
Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy includes a priority to conduct innovative trials and seek to improve the kerbside organics service. To achieve this, Council and East Waste have commenced a trial of weekly green organics bin collection from Monday 2 September 2024, with approximately 1,400 households and businesses. The trial has been a resounding success, leading Council to endorse an extension. Similar trials in other South Australian and interstate councils have also been successful, with strong support from participating households. These trials have helped reduce waste sent to landfill.
本页提供有关每周绿色有机物箱试验的详细信息。可以使用页面右上角的翻译按钮翻译此页面。
Questions?
If you have any questions or feedback about the Weekly Green Organics Trial, please contact Council on 8366 4200, email burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au, or use the form at the bottom of this webpage to request a call back.
Results so far
The trial has demonstrated the benefits of weekly organic collection. One common metric used to assess management of waste is ‘diversion’ from landfill. Materials that are recycled or composted are ‘diverted’ from landfill. The diversion rate in Burnside is typically 61 per cent. During the trial, the community has achieved a much-improved average diversion rate of 76 per cent. This means that a lot less waste is going to landfill. This shows that providing a weekly green organics bin collection increases the volumes of food waste going into the correct bin, the green bin.
The graph below shows the diversion rate in Burnside from the last three financial years and then the substantial increase of materials being diverted in the trial area since weekly organics collection began.
When did it start?
From Monday 2 September 2024 households and businesses in the trial area started a weekly green organic collection and fortnightly landfill and recycling collection.
Who is in the trial?
Households and businesses in Beulah Park and the northern side of Kensington Park are part of the trial. This area is bounded by Magill Road, Glynburn Road, The Parade and Portrush Road (shown in the map below). For streets on the edge of the trial (coloured pink on the map), households and business across the road are not part of the trial. The trial area has been selected to suit East Waste’s operational needs, such as truck collection runs.
Why trial?
This trial is being conducted because there are numerous benefits to weekly green organics collection:
- Bin collection should meet the needs of most households. Most household waste is organic waste from the kitchen and the garden. We also know that most household’s landfill bins do not need to be collected weekly because they are half full or less.
- Reduces landfill volumes. More food organics going into the green organics bin means less is wasted in landfill.
- Financial savings. It’s five times cheaper to compost organic material such as food waste rather than sending it to landfill. Sending less material to landfill keeps the pressure off Council rates.
- Ease of use. Households will have their organics collected weekly, so do not need to worry about smell or waiting another week for collection.
- Improves environmental sustainability. The contents of the green organics bin are turned into valuable compost, rather than being wasted in landfill. When food waste is composted, it breaks down quickly. In contrast, when food waste goes to landfill, it breaks down slowly and releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
- Creates local jobs. The composting industry creates and supports more jobs than landfill sites.
What goes in the green organics bin?
The green organics bin is for organic material that can be commercially composted. This includes food scraps such as fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, compostable takeaway packaging and garden organics such as leaves, branches and lawn clippings.
If you are not sure what goes in each bin visit the Which Bin website at: whichbin.com.au
Trial collection calendar
Click the link below to download the trial area collection calendar.
FAQs
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are provided below.
It’s great you support weekly green organics, however, we are currently unable to expand the trail area due to logistical challenges.
If you want to stay updated with the trial, show your support, or would like to volunteer, please contact us.
If you are interested in helping promote weekly green organics we would love to have you on board. You can:
- Talk to your neighbours, friends and family about why you support weekly green organics.
- Be involved in our promotion to help spread the word. This could be a photo opportunity, interview or short video on why you support weekly organics.
If you are interested in showing your support, please contact us.
While most households are ready for this change, some households will need extra support. For example, council can provide a larger landfill bin.
Please contact us to discuss options.
Participant feedback, environmental outcomes and financial implications were evaluated and presented to Council at the 28 January 2025 meeting.
Subject to budgetary processes, the trial will continue into the next financial year for long-term evaluation. Households will be kept informed of any updates.
FOGO stands for Food Organics Garden Organics. This term is used sometimes used to describe the green organics bin. The City of Burnside opts to call this bin the Green Organics bin, so its name directly conveys the colour of the bin lid and what should be placed in this bin. Thus, the names "Green Organics trial" and "FOGO trial" have the same meaning.
Business FAQs
Yes. The weekly green organics trial includes all properties including businesses and community organisations (eg churches and not-for-profits) within the trial area.
Businesses already using council kerbside bins will have the same opportunities as households to be involved in the trial including the option to upsize your landfill bin. Please contact us to discuss your options.
Yes. All businesses in the City of Burnside are entitled to the standard suite of bins (organics, recycling and landfill) if space allows. Please contact us to order bins (subject to eligibility checks).
Yes, all landfill bins in the trial area will be collected fortnightly. Many items, such as hand towels, tissues, tea bags and takeaway coffee cups, are compostable.
Contact us to discuss what can go in the green bin and whether a green bin is suitable for your business.
Yes. Our Environmental Sustainability staff can visit your premises to deliver training and support the correct use of bins. Please contact us to enquire.
Yes. All businesses in the City of Burnside are entitled to the standard suite of bins (organics, recycling and landfill) if space allows. Please contact us to order bins (subject to eligibility checks).