Recycling organic waste is a practical and immediate way individuals and households can help mitigate the impacts of climate change, according to the Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA). As awareness grows, many have embraced placing their garden and food organics into green bins, a critical step towards reducing potent greenhouse gases.
If you don’t already have an organic food scraps bin in your kitchen, we recommend checking out your local council’s website for information on how to get one. Council websites will also have useful information surrounding what sort of produce is appropriate for green organic bins. For example, the Port Adelaide Enfield Council uses organic waste to make compost and organic products such as mulch, which is then used in council maintained parks and gardens.
Another great way to recycle organics is to start your own compost bin in the garden. You can dispose of food scraps and other organic items then use the compost on your own garden to help it grow! For tips and advice on how to get started, join a local composting group by doing a quick search on Facebook.
Landfill disposal of organic materials, often tossed into red bins, results in the production of methane—a gas with a global warming potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide. In contrast, the separate collection and recycling of organics into compost, mulches, and soil conditioners through green bins substantially mitigates this emission.
In a push to highlight the benefits of proper organics recycling, AORA outlined the significant impact achieved during 2021-22. Australia saw a 52.3% national recovery rate of organic material, amounting to approximately 3.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) in greenhouse gas (GHG) savings. The environmental benefit of this effort is equivalent to offsetting the emissions of nearly 902,311 cars annually or planting 5.8 million trees.
Despite these positive outcomes, the full potential of organics recycling is still hindered by contamination. Common contaminants include plastics, glass, metal, leather, rubber, and improperly disposed of cardboard and packaged food. These materials need to be meticulously separated at recycling facilities, often manually, before the organics can be processed.
The benefits of organics recycling extend beyond reducing emissions at landfill sites. The compost products generated play a significant role in sustainable agriculture and horticulture. They enhance plant growth and survival while reducing the dependence on inorganic fertilisers and irrigation. This not only contributes to building soil carbon but also decreases further GHG emissions associated with conventional farming practices.
AORA underscores the dual environmental benefit of organics recycling: it minimises harmful emissions from both landfill and agricultural activities. The organisation continues to advocate for the thoughtful separation of organics and recognises the positive environmental impact achieved through community participation in green bin schemes.
With the current 52.3% recovery rate, there is substantial room for improvement. AORA emphasises that increasing participation in organics recycling could significantly amplify these environmental benefits. The simple act of correctly using the green bin holds untapped potential to further combat climate change. Through collective action and increased awareness, every household can contribute to a broader, more sustainable impact for future generations.
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