Organics collection (green lid)

Your green bin is serviced weekly along with your red-lid garbage and yellow-lid recycling bin. There are no changes to our service schedule. Present all your bins the evening before the designated day of service in your area.

To find your organics collection day, search for your property in our Organics Collection Day map.

The wrong materials, (e.g. plastic bags, garden hose, nappies) in your green bin will contaminate the compost, therefore contaminated bins cannot be collected. Your green bin should only contain food scraps (loose, in a compostable bag or wrapped in newspaper) and/or garden organics. If in doubt, leave it out. If you require more information please phone customer service on 9391 7000

As long as you follow our advice about what can or cannot be placed in your garden organics bin it should be emptied each week. However, a missed collection may result if wrong materials are found in your bin. If your bin is not contaminated or you have removed the contamination, it should be reported to Customer Service by calling 9391 7000. Missed collections will be addressed within 24 hours.

Yes! Residents living in apartments can use the service. The more food scraps we can recycle, the better. Council can help by providing all the necessary education materials for residents, strata managers, body corporates and cleaners. By working together, we can ensure that all residents are aware of the service and understand how to use it. If your building requires additional green bins, please phone customer service on 9391 7000 to place and order. The bin/s will be delivered within 5 working days.

It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have, your bin does not have to be full for collection. Council will empty your green bin weekly as long as you place it out for collection. Keep in mind that every little bit helps. Collaboratively, your little bit, along with the rest of the community will drastically reduce organic waste to landfill and ensure it is recycled.

Green crates are only used in the Monday collection zone which includes Paddington, West Woollahra and a part of Edgecliff. Unfortunately, we cannot accept food organics in crate receptacles. If you wish to participate in the service, Council can provide a small 60L bin with a lid. Please phone Council on 9391 7000 to place an order. Alternatively, you can consider doing your bit for the environment by composting or worm farming at home which can achieve the same results in waste reduction. Go to Compost Revolution for more information.

Your green bin is collected weekly so it shouldn’t smell or attract pests any more than your red garbage bin does now. Food scraps may also be wrapped in newspaper or compostable bags which should detract pests, minimise odour and soak up any liquids. Some other tips include:

• Store your green bin out of direct sunlight to stop it heating up.
• Freeze bones/scraps of fish, meat, and dairy until the night before collection to avoid odours and pests.
• Place some twigs in the bottom of your green wheelie bin to stop food sticking and help with aeration.
• Place bi-carbonate soda in the bottom of your kitchen and green wheelie bin to absorb liquids and odours.
• Keep some grass clippings or leaves on hand. After placing food scraps in the green bin, place some grass clippings or leaves on top which will provide cover from pests, and minimise odour.
• In the event you find fly maggots in your bin and wish to eradicate them, boiling water poured on-top is a safe and non-toxic method.
• Natural fly deterrents include citrus and eucalyptus oils. Place a few drops onto an absorbent cloth and leave in the area where flies are a problem or even attach to bin lids. You could also experiment with citrus peels.

Residents have also suggested:

• Keeping your kitchen bin in the fridge to keep tiny vinegar flies away
• If you have little or no garden organics to mix with food scraps, ask your neighbour if they wouldn’t mind parting with some of theirs OR ask your neighbour if you could put a small bundle of food scraps in with their green wheelie bin the evening before collection.
• Line the bottom of your bin with scrunched balls of newspaper to absorb liquids.

Remember, do not place plastic bags in your green bin as they interfere with the compost process.

This is great news! Home compost/worm farms can recycle your food scraps and provide you with the satisfaction of creating your own compost. If you would like to purchase a compost bin or worm farm with an 80% discount go to Compost Revolution. This Council program has successfully helped and supported residents starting their journey to reducing food waste and creating compost.

We still encourage the use of your green bin for food scraps even if you have little or no garden organics. Your food scraps are the most important part as we are trying to reduce this waste to landfill. If your green bin is too big, phone Council on 9391 7000 to discuss other bin options.

We all generate waste and managing it in a sustainable way is everybody’s responsibility. It’s really very easy to separate your food scraps into the green bin. Try separating small amounts at first to become familiar with how this might work for you. Soon separating food scraps will become second nature.

Think about the outcome you would prefer for your family and the environment – landfill or compost? This is an easy way and great opportunity to help protect the environment, reduce waste to landfill and reduce greenhouse emissions.

At present, Council has a small supply of kitchen caddies and bags left over from our roll-out a few years ago. These are available for pick up at Council Chambers reception 536 New South Head Rd, Double Bay while stocks last. Please phone ahead to ensure the items are available on 9391 7000.