Photo: Supplied.
FROM REDLAND CITY COUNCIL
Organic garden waste makes up about 30 per cent of waste sent to landfill each year from Redlands Coast households’ red-lid general waste bins.
This includes garden clippings, branches, leaves and other green waste, equating to more than 10,000 tonnes a year of material that could have otherwise been composted.
When green waste ends up in landfill, it breaks down without oxygen, producing methane – a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change.
But beyond the environmental impact, landfilling organic waste drives up costs.
More waste means more transport, higher landfill waste levies and increased pressure on limited landfill space.
The solution is to keep green waste out of landfill.
Redlands Coast residents have access to green waste bins on the mainland and drop-off services at all recycling and waste centres.
This green waste is sent to a composting facility and turned into mulch and garden soil, a valuable product that supports local landscaping, agriculture and soil health.
By using these services, we reduce emissions and help control the costs of waste management.
Here’s how you can help:
- Use your green waste bin – or order one if you don’t have it yet. There is an annual fee of $75, which can be offset by downsizing your general waste bin from a 240 litre to a 140 litre general waste bin when you order your green bin at the same time. This also helps to free up space in your red-lid bin. Call Council on 3829 8999 or go online to redland.qld.gov.au/greenwaste for more information.
- Once you have your green bin, keep it clean – no plastic bags, food scraps, garden rubbish such as hoses and pot plants, or general waste.
- Encourage others – talk to neighbours and friends about the benefits of proper green waste disposal.
Reducing garden organic waste in landfill is one of the most effective ways to manage costs and environmental impacts at the same time.
