When truck loads of green bin contents are hand sorted at speed, it is difficult for workers to tell the difference between compostable, biodegradable or plastic bags. Some compostable bags also take far longer to break down than our organics system, and still come out looking like bags! Bags end up being removed from the composting process, or worse – having the whole load treated as contamination! Degradable and biodegradable bags can contain plastic and heavy metals and that are not suitable for composting or microbial treatment.

The first stage of processing involves shredding the contents before it is placed into composting bays. When a plastic bag goes through the shredder, it is ripped into many small pieces, and it is impossible to remove.

Plastic bags of any kind can mean an entire load of compost is contaminated and sent to landfill.

What a waste!

• cooked foods, leftovers and plate-scrapings

• all fruit and vegetable scraps and peelings

• bones, seafood and shells

• coffee grinds,
  tea bags and
  tea leaves

• eggshells

• bread, pastries, cakes and
  biscuits

• dairy
  products

• grass
  clippings

• leaves, weeds
  and flowers

• NO soil and rocks

• NO pet poo or poo bags

• NO vacuum cleaner dust, washing machine and dryer lint

• NO treated or painted timber (some treatments are toxic eg
  treated
  pine)

• NO plant pots
  - plastic or
  ceramic

• NO nappies – not even
  compostable or biodegradable
  nappies

• NO plastic bags of any kind - including compostable or biodegradable plastic products or bags

• NO timber
  furniture or toys

• NO large or thick branches, stumps, logs (nothing thicker than your arm)

• NO cutlery, paper towels or serviettes

• NO fibre-based materials, such as bamboo, timber or cardboard packaging

• small untreated and unpainted timber off-cuts

• small branches and sticks

• rice, grains, cereals and noodles

• onions, garlic and citrus peels

• cut flowers

• fibre-based kitchen caddy liners (e.g. paper or newspaper) used to collect and transfer food waste to the FOGO bin.