What is best practice waste management?

    This is a term used in the waste industry to describe how waste will be dealt with for the best of outcomes for our community and environment. It is generally accepted that this means minimising the amount of waste that is sent to landfill and maximising the amount that is sent for composting and recycling.

    Will it cost more?

    A part of the strategy includes investigation to examine financial implications, efficiency/efficacy of service and overall value of the proposed programs.

    Why the focus on food?

    • Food waste is expensive for residents and businesses, costs council and ratepayers to dispose of and harms the environment when it is sent to landfill.
    • Food scraps make up the highest proportion of material that could be recovered from the red bin and kept out of landfill.
    • When food scraps (and other organic wastes) are put in the green organics bin they are collected and then composted by a local South Australian company. This helps to stimulate our local economy, create local jobs, and build a product that can be used to grow food and other plants in our backyards and farms.

    Where does my food and garden waste (put in the green organics bin) end up?

    When food scraps (and other organic waste like garden clippings, and compostable packaging) are put in the green organics bin they are collected and then composted by Jeffries, a local South Australian company. This helps to stimulate our local economy, create local jobs, and build a product that can be used to grow food and other plants in our backyards and farms.

    Where does my recycling placed in the yellow recycling bin end up?

    The City of Adelaide sends its recycling to Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA)’s material recovery facility where it is sorted, processed and baled. It is collected by our new contractor Cleanaway (new contract commenced 1 July 2020).

    Will you be emptying my bin(s) more, or less, often?

    • There are currently no changes to bin collection days or frequency.
    • We will be working with our community to improve messaging to help users put more of the correct items in the green organics and recycling bins. These items can then be treated as resource for composting and recycling companies and become a new usable product such as garden compost or a glass jar.

    How will waste services to businesses change?

    At this stage they will not change but we will be working with our business community to improve messaging to help users put more of the correct items in the correct bins.

    Will there be recycling bins in public places, like parks and streets?

    Our waste audit data shows that these bins are being used but unfortunately there is a lot of contamination, meaning, the materials are not recyclable, or they become damaged by liquids and food and cannot be recycled.

    The proposed strategy will investigate the best way to divert more materials from the landfill. We are considering what types of recycling we encourage in public places, if this could include food waste for composting, and how we best explain to our community what goes into these bins. 

    How are apartment buildings doing with waste?

    Our waste audit shows that there is opportunity for improvement in resource recovery in apartments and multi-unit dwellings.

    How can I contribute to better waste management and resource recovery?

    You can do your part by reducing the amount of waste you throw in the red waste bin (which goes to landfill) by recycling more, like putting food scraps in the green organics bin. If you would like more information please visit our website for helpful tips, or visit Whichbin.sa.gov.au to find out which bin to put your waste and recycling in!

    How do I provide my feedback?

    There are several ways in which you can provide feedback:


    Online 
     
    Contribute your feedback via the Online Survey [LINK].

    Email your comments to yoursay@cityofadelaide.com.au.

    Written Submissions
     
    All written submissions must be received by 5.00pm Sunday  and should be addressed to:

    Community Consultation

    Resource Recovery Strategy

    GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001

    What happens next?

    Feedback provided will help to inform the final Strategy and Action Plan. Feedback will also be consolidated into a report and this will be shared in an upcoming Council Committee meeting followed by a Council meeting where the decision to adopt the final strategy will be made.

    This report will also be made available on this project page.