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This article was published on Thursday, 5 January, 2017. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Organic bin contamination rates fall again

“Considering the Christmas festivities and all the associated extra waste from that period it is pleasing to see that the contamination rate did drop,” said Greater Shepparton City Council Director Infrastructure Steve Bowmaker.

Mr Bowmaker urged residents to continue be mindful of what they are throwing in the green lid bin as regular waste items including plastic bags can ruin an entire truck load which then has to be sent to landfill instead of being converted to compost.

“Every truck load to landfill incurs a levy from the EPA so the less we send to landfill the more we are saving, and not just financially, but environmentally. Whilst we have secured a new regional landfill site at Cosgrove, which will be developed over the next couple of years, we also need to people to change their habits so that less waste goes to landfill,” said Mr Bowmaker.

“We have a great three bin system in place for people to sort and dispose of waste, recyclables and organics. The kitchen caddy and purple compostable bags make it easy to collect kitchen scraps if you don’t have a compost bin or for things like meat scraps and bones that shouldn’t go in your compost bin. The heat treatment carried out on green waste turns it into compost so it can be returned to the earth.”

“We just ask residents to make sure they know what goes in which bin. The main thing to remember with the green lid bin is that ‘if it doesn’t grow, it doesn’t go’,” he said.

Mr Bowmaker thanked residents for their efforts in continuing to decrease contamination. “With hot weather now well and truly upon us, it’s a good idea to keep your green lid bin in a shaded, well ventilated area with the lid closed to minimize odours.”