Why should we compost our food and garden scraps?

When you dispose of your food scraps in your kerbside green bin, or compost at home, you can significantly reduce your climate change footprint.

Food and garden scraps are a valuable resource that can be transformed into nutrient-rich compost and used in local gardens, parks and farms. It’s like recycling for food!

What can I put in my green bin?

All your food and garden scraps belong in the green bin. Even things you can’t compost at home like bones and citrus.

Check out our infographic here

How can I keep my kitchen caddy from attracting flies and smelling?

There are some simple steps you can take to keep your food scrap container or kitchen caddy fresh! Line it with newspaper or paper bags, freeze smelly foods until collection day, empty it regularly, and store it in a cool, dark place with the lid tightly closed. Check out more top tips here

Why shouldn’t I put my food scraps in the red bin?

Up to 18% of what we put in our red rubbish bins should be placed in our green food and garden bins or composted at home.

Why? Because when organic matter breaks down in landfill, it produces greenhouse gasses and liquids that are harmful to the environment and costly to manage. And it wastes a valuable resource that could be used to make compost.

Looking for more reasons? We’ve listed them here

Why can’t I use compostable liners/bags?

Plastic bags of any kind – compostable, biodegradable or plastic – are all treated as contamination during the composting process.

One bag can mean an entire load of compost is contaminated and sent to landfill. What a waste!

What happens to my green wheelie bin?

When you place your food scraps into your green wheelie bin, using a kitchen caddy or container to make it easy, the contents are emptied every week and transported to the Biomass Solutions facility in Coffs Harbour. Once contamination is removed and sent to landfill,  the food and garden scraps are shredded and stored. The material is transformed into compost in long climate-controlled bays, air-separated and screened. The final product is sold to market gardens, urban landscape suppliers and the agriculture industry and used to grow more food and improve parks and gardens. See the process in pictures here

Where can I get my free kitchen caddy?

If you’re a resident of Coffs Harbour City Council, Bellingen Shire Council or Nambucca Valley Council, and receive a kerbside bin collection service, you can collect your free kitchen caddy from selected Council locations. Find you closest collection point here! Caddies will be released in batches as they are received from the manufacturer.

how frequently is my bin collected?

Your green bin is emptied every week. Put it out for collection every week, even if it's not full. This is a great way to prevent flies, pests and smells.