Food waste collection begins in the Borough

BOROUGH of Queenscliffe Mayor Ross Ebbels joined one of the first trucks that made waste collections as part of the Council’s new kerbside food waste collection service.

From Monday, Borough residents were encouraged to deposit their food waste and scraps into their green-lidded Food Organics and Garden Organics bins, promoting sustainability and decreasing their environmental footprint.

The contents of the FOGO bin, which also collects any garden waste, will be collected each week and taken to a compositing facility.

Mayor Ebbels said it was gratifying to ride along in one of the first trucks collecting residents’ bins and to see the system in action.

“These collections are the culmination of years of work by Council and our community to manage our food waste in more sustainable way,” Cr Ebbels said.

“From today, food waste you put in your green lidded bin will be turned into high-quality compost, instead of high-polluting methane.

“It’s a fantastic outcome for the Borough.”

Borough residents can put most items that are generally on their dinner plate into the new FOGO bins, including vegetables, meat, bones, dairy and even oyster shells.

Residents have also been supplied with their own portable kitchen caddies to help collect food waste, with compostable liners and an information pack sent out to help them use the new system with confidence.

Mayor Ebbels said the change would hopefully empower residents to reduce their environmental footprint.

“Every time you put your food waste in your green-lidded bin instead of sending it to landfill, you’re helping to protect our environment and our planet,” Cr Ebbels said.

“It’s a small change with a big impact, and I know our residents are looking forward to leading the way to a more sustainable future.”