The community is being encouraged to dispose of food waste in new bins to be delivered this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Homes in Goulburn and Marulan will receive the 10,500 green-lidded bins as part an initiative to direct more waste to compost.
The roll-out of the new organic bins will take place from Tuesday, June 18 to Friday, July 5 for residents in Goulburn and Marulan who currently receive a kerbside waste collection service.
An Environmental Trust grant through the State's Waste Less, Recycle More initiative enabled the to provide each eligible household with a free 240L organic waste bin with a lime green lid, and a kitchen caddy to assist with separation of food waste.
The kitchen caddies will be secured to the organic waste bins, which will be delivered to the kerb of each property.
The kitchen caddies can be used with or without compostable bags, which will be available to collect from the Civic Centre in Bourke Street, Goulburn.
The new bins will be emptied fortnightly from July 1, as per the council's Waste Collection calendar.
Mayor Bob Kirk said it was important for residents to use their new kitchen caddies and green bins to dispose of their food waste, rather than putting it into the red bin.
"Up to 30 per cent of what goes into red bins in Goulburn Mulwaree is food waste, which creates toxic methane gas and leachate when it breaks down in landfill," he said.
"By placing this food waste into the green bin instead, it keeps it out of landfill and allows it to be turned into nutrient-rich compost."
This will be undertaken at the Goulburn Waste Management Centre.
The council stressed the importance of keeping all bins free of contaminants such as household garbage, plastic bags and other soft plastics, polystyrene foam, and hazardous material such as sharps, medical waste or asbestos.
The waste management centre will initially trial a static pile composting method and investigate alternative processing options to improve the composting process.
Residents who already have an organic waste bin, which is not council-issued, are encouraged to keep it and re-purpose it, such as using it for storage, or making a DIY compost bin or worm farm.
Households that are part of the kerbside service and have not received their new bin and caddy by July 8 should contact the council's waste info line on 4823 4417.
While you're with us...
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.