Wyndham council is hoping that changes to its waste collection services will help reduce the amount of food scraps being sent to landfill.
From September 1, residents will be able to place fruit and vegetable scraps in their green-waste bin.
The scraps will then be diverted from landfill and sent to the new Veolia green- waste facility at Bulla, where they will be turned into compost.
A recent audit of recycling and green- waste bins in Wyndham found that almost 46 per cent of household waste had the potential to be turned into compost.
The council said the findings sparked a need to find alternative ways to divert food waste from landfill, where it slowly broke down and released greenhouse gases.
Environment and sustainability portfolio-holder Cr Peter Gibbons said the fruit and vegetable scrap roll-out would reduce Wyndham’s carbon foot- print.
“[The Veolia facility] has the ability to process both garden waste and fruit and vegetable scraps by turning them into a rich source of compost,” he said.
“The messages behind the campaign are simple: avoid food wastage and remember that food isn’t always garbage.”
About 20,000 Wyndham residents currently use the green-waste service, but Cr Gibbons would like to see that number increase.
Details: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/waste
