100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Unlocking the planet-saving potential hidden in our household rubbish bins

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Flights on new route start in time for Easter holidays

Bonza's direct flights between the Sunshine Coast and Launceston have started, just in time for the Easter holidays. Launceston is the 12th Bonza destination from More

Fishing report: Zoe lands perfect birthday gifts

Unfortunately, we've had another week of heavy rainfall and windy conditions. The freshwater, combined with super high tides, has made our estuaries virtually unfishable again More.

Photo of the day: river paddle

These kayakers on the Maroochy River brought some colour to a very grey day, writes Sandy Gillis. If you have a photo of the day More

Highway patrol hits the road for Easter operation

The Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol will be out in force during the holidays, as part of Operation Easter Break. District officer superintendent Craig Hawkins said More

Fines issued as council continues blitz on illegal camping

More than a dozen fines have been issued as a local council continues to crack down on travellers who use public car parks as More

‘Classic’ motel making $465k annual profit on market

The sale of a Sunshine Coast motel with tropical gardens, an onsite residence and approval to grow is being described as an opportunity “that More

Buried deep in our rubbish bin lies an opportunity that could see the Sunshine Coast divert more than half its household waste from landfill and turn it into a valuable resource.

Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to introduce an opt-out third bin for garden waste, which could transition to a food organics and garden organics bin service, also known as a FOGO bin.

Residents are invited to complete a short online survey and have a say on the future of waste.

Service Delivery Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson said this was another project which had the potential to put our Sunshine Coast on a path to achieving international, national and state greenhouse gas reduction targets, and another step towards becoming Australia’s most sustainable region.

“Council, State and Commonwealth governments have established waste strategies and policies which set targets to divert waste from landfill,” Cr Dickson said.

“Our waste strategy sets the target to divert 55 per cent of household waste from landfill by 2025 – at the moment we sit at 34 per cent.

“Forty-three council’s in New South Wales have a FOGO service, and it makes sense because it means less waste is sent to landfill – potentially extending the life of our existing facilities by many years.

“Waste becomes a resource, we reduce our region’s greenhouse gas emissions and look after our environment for our children, and their children.

Do you have an opinion to share? Sunshine Coast News will soon launch a Letters to the Editor section in response to requests from subscribers. Feel free to submit via: news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au

“To support a thriving community now and into the future it is critical that we manage our energy, waste and natural resources efficiently and sustainably.

“I encourage all of our community to have their say. Let us know the changes you’d be willing to make for a sustainable future.”

Service Delivery Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson said the introduction of a compulsory garden waste and FOGO bin would be another step towards Sunshine Coast Council’s goal to transition to a circular economy for waste, in line with its Sunshine Coast Waste Strategy 2015 – 2025.

“Bones, lemon peels, out-of-date dairy products, lawn clippings and meat have more in common than you may think,” Cr Dickson said.

“These items might seem like rubbish, but they could be converted into a valuable resource, like energy or compost, if recycled correctly.

“Council is undertaking a community survey to explore the possibility of introducing a third bin for lawn clippings and garden waste for every household as an option to improve waste management.

“At the moment, over 35,000 households have a garden waste bin.

“If all households used a garden waste bin, this could increase the total amount of material recycled by households to over 40 per cent, reducing the amount of organic waste in landfill and allow it to be recycled into mulch.

“Eventually this garden waste bin could transition to a Food Organics and Garden Organics or FOGO collection service, which means you’d put all your food scraps in the green bin along with your garden waste.

“Even foods you wouldn’t put in a home compost bin could go in because the processing of the waste occurs in a controlled environment.

He said our region’s organic waste could be turned into high quality compost which could be put to good use in parks, gardens and farms, instead of rotting in a landfill and producing methane – a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide.

“Or it could be converted into a fuel to make electricity.

“Based on our research and conversations with other councils, we have some ideas on how we expect a FOGO bin service to work such as changing how frequently the bin is collected and using kitchen tidy bins with special bags to contain the smell.

“We want to hear the community’s feedback before any decision is made.”

Visit Caloundra, Nambour or Maroochydore Council Library or Council’s Have Your Say Page at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/our-future-waste and complete the online survey before 5pm, Tuesday March 2, 2021.

[scn_go_back_button] Return Home

Subscribe to SCN’s daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.