12/06/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/07/2022 09:11
Did you know putting small branches into your garden organics bin before grass clippings prevents grass sticking to the bottom?
From waste to resource, a new video shares this top tip and more on how to get the best from your household garden organics bin.
Sunshine Coast residents are invited to watch a waste education expert share her recycling knowledge.
Environment and Liveability Portfolio Holder Cr Maria Suarez said remembering what goes in your garden organics bin was really very simple.
"If it grows in your garden, it can go in the bin," Cr Suarez
"And that's the extent of it - please only put grass clippings, small branches and twigs, leaves, non-invasive weeds, garden prunings and old flowers in your garden bin."
The video, shares top tips and takes viewers behind the scenes to give an insight into what happens to their garden organics once it's collected by council.
When you recycle your garden waste, it gets turned into mulch - creating new life from old.
Once collected, our region's garden organics are taken to a council resource recovery centre to be processed.
The material is ground into a mulch and placed in windrows to 'age'.
This mulch is available to our community to place in their gardens. Check Council's website for availability before you visit a site.
Cr Suarez thanked the community for embracing the expanded garden organics service.
"From July to October 2022, since the expanded service began, more than 6300 tonnes of kerbside-collected garden organics have been diverted from landfill, recycled and reused," Cr Suarez said.
"Our Sunshine Coast community has really taken up the chance to help our environment by using the fortnightly garden organics bin to divert more waste from landfill and prevent harmful greenhouse gas being released into the atmosphere.
"A total of 86,000 households now have a garden organics bin with an extra 45,000 joining the service since the expanded program began on July 11, 2022.
"We have a goal to be a zero net emissions organisation and low carbon region and decomposing waste is a big contributor to greenhouse gases.
"The more organic material we put into landfill, the more greenhouse gases we produce over the long term and the worse it is for the environment.
"We thank our community for playing their part for a cleaner, greener environment and sustainable future."
The new video can be viewed at oursc.com.au, on council's social media and youtube channel.
More information on the expanded garden organics service is available at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/gardenbin