Local applications of kerbside food and garden organics collection: An Australian regional study

Literature is emerging on Australian household food and garden waste disposal and recycling habits; however, little is known about the feasibility of, and community attitudes to, kerbside organics collection in regional settings. This study provides results on the conversion of food and garden organics to compost in a council-owned small scale, boutique composting system and employed a series of surveys to evaluate household residents' attitudes to the collection and processing of food organic and garden organic material in two regional towns in the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Queensland. The trial achieved substantial diversion of organic waste from the general waste stream, which was reduced by 31%. Extrapolation showed that implementation of a similar collection system across the entire council region would extend the current landfill life by at least 2 years. The composting system cost less than 200,000 Australian dollars (AUD) to establish and eliminated considerable transport and gate fee costs for commercial composting, which would have exceeded 500,000 AUD for the treatment of the tonnes of food waste collected in the trial. Pre- and post-trial surveys showed residents' willingness to pay increased from 44% to 50% and the range of costs the respondents were willing to pay was between 22.80 and 42.80 AUD. Key to improving residents' attitudes lie in clearly communicating how waste charges are applied and the costs to councils to manage waste. Further recommendations to enhance the overall trial effectiveness include sufficient lead in time for trial preparation, strategic communication and recycling education specifically related to separation of food.