Everything you need to know about recycling garden waste

Garden Organics includes:
Branches Flowers Grass Leaves Mulch Grass clippings Garden waste Compost Soil Garden cuttings

Learn more about recycling garden waste

How to recycle garden waste

Organic waste is anything that was or is living. These waste streams usually come from the garden (garden organics, sometimes referred to as green waste) or the kitchen (food scraps).
 
Organics should never be put in your recycling bin at home or work. Many commercial recycling operators and local councils accept garden organics for recycling, including branches, stumps, plant organics and grass clippings.

Garden waste

Organic waste from the garden includes?leaves, grass clippings, branches, hay, flowers, sawdust, woodchips and bark.

• Businesses and workplaces with large quantities of garden waste to dispose of can use a commercial organic waste recycler. These businesses often provide collection services, and some may have drop-off options (always call in advance to check they are able to accept the waste). Use the directory on this page to find a recycler near you.
  
  
• Businesses can also install an industrial/commercial on-site composter. This may be particularly beneficial and cost-effective for landscaping businesses that require compost and soil.
  
  

Food waste

Food waste includes fruit, vegetables, tea, bread, cereals, eggshells, grains, meat and dairy products.

• Food waste recycling collection services for businesses are provided by a number of commercial operators and local councils. The types of food waste accepted varies, so check with your local operator. Typically, items such as fruit and vegetable peelings, post-consumer leftovers and coffee grounds are accepted. Meat off-cuts and grease-trap sludge from commercial kitchens may be less commonly accepted.
  
  
• Small businesses may consider having a worm farm or composting bin in the workplace, allowing them to compost their own lunch leftovers or scraps. Many local councils and community groups provide information and run workshops on worm farming and composting.
  
  
• Hotels, restaurants and other large food service establishments may consider installing an industrial/commercial on-site composter.

 

Why recycle?

A large amount of waste that goes to landfill is organic. This represents a wasted resource that fills limited landfill space. Organic matter in landfill breaks down and releases greenhouse gases including methane, which is a particularly potent greenhouse gas. As the organic waste decomposes it also produces liquid waste known as leachate that can contaminate surface and ground water.
 
Composting organic waste helps fight climate change. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions and turns waste into nutrient-rich soil that can be used to nurture vegetation.

 

What happens to it?

The most common method of composting organic waste in Australia is aerobic windrow composting (also called hot composting). In this process, food waste is mixed with other organic waste like wood chips or paper before the material is formed into ‘windrows’ or mounded rows. The windrows are regularly turned and managed to optimise aerobic breakdown of the organic material (microbial breakdown of organic material in the presence of oxygen).
 
Another popular process that uses aerobic decomposition is in-vessel composting. This is similar to windrow composting, but the conditions can be more carefully controlled and the process is accelerated.
 
Biogas, including methane, is produced from anaerobic decomposition of organic waste (microbial breakdown of organic waste in the absence of oxygen). There are around 60 biogas generation facilities in Australia, producing biogas for electricity generation.
 
The solid material that is produced from composting is used as compost, mulch, potting mix, soil fertilisers and other soil conditioners. The liquid material that is produced from in-vessel composting and anaerobic decomposition is also used in soil conditioners, including liquid fertiliser that can be injected into the soil.
 
The use of compost in gardening, landscaping, horticulture and agriculture can:

• Reduce the amount of watering required.
• Reduce the amount of synthetic fertilisers needed.
• Improve the structure, fertility and health of soils.
• Help to repair soils suffering from poor management.