South Australia continues to keep up with its reputation for nation-leading environmental policy, as it becomes the first State to have 100% certified compostable bags replacing single use plastic fruit and vegetable bags in all Woolworths stores.
Shoppers will no longer have to take plastic bags to hold loose produce and will be able to reuse the bags at home to compost food waste. This is the next step in moving on from single-use plastic and will be very popular with consumers.
“We know that simple systems, and small changes can have powerful outcomes for our environment, reducing our impact carbon footprint and directly addressing climate change,” said Woolworths South Australia assistant state manager, Elisha Moore.
“This is a great outcome for convenience and for a sustainable, more circular economy in South Australia,” she said.
The compostable bags can then be used in kitchen caddies and to capture food scraps in the kitchen, and will go a long way in helping South Australians to continue to fight climate change at home by increasing their use of their kerbside green bin, also known as their Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin.
“The kitchen caddy many households already have from their local council is the unsung hero of our recycling system, and it helps divert food waste from landfill, and into our nation leading compost sector,” said Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Susan Close.
“It’s important everyone realises that every scrap of food waste and every blade of grass that goes to landfill does not break down. Because of the lack of water and oxygen, it creates methane, which is much more harmful to our climate than carbon dioxide,” she said.
FOGO still make up as much as 40 per cent of the average South Australian household waste bin. Green bin organics is quickly converted to a high value nutrient, which helps the State’s farmers, fruit growers and vineyards retain moisture and improve the soil health.
South Australians can find more waste and recycling advice at the Green Industries SA ‘Which Bin’ website.
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