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Bass Coast families embrace organics bin

As Bass Coast residents prepare for the introduction of the three-bin system in early September, households already implementing the organics bin have shared their experiences.

By Portal Admin - 8th August 2017 - Back to News

Council delivered organics bins to nine households across the Shire in mid-April to be case studies, with families of all different sizes and circumstances volunteering to use the new system in advance.

After using the kitchen caddy and liners, as well as the organics bin, for a number of months, Council followed up with the families to see how they’ve found a new way of separating their waste.

A Cape Woolamai couple with pets said while it was hard to get used to in the beginning, they love the organics bin.

"People might find the change painful, especially those with children, but once they get used to it and learn the benefits to their children's environment, I feel they will embrace it more," they said.

A Wonthaggi family of four, also with pets, said they’re really happy with the whole bin system so far.

"Overall, it has reduced the amount in the landfill bin and I see it working really well for families," they said.

"I think it is a valuable addition to our waste solution in Bass Coast."

Nappies have been a popular topic for questions and discussion from the community, and a Pioneer Bay family of four with a new born and toddler, have also trialled the new system.

"With a new born, a toddler and lots of visitors, having the option to separate the organics into another bin has helped us manage and cope with our current landfill bin," they said.

"The organics bin has also encouraged me to get in the garden more. Our family think it’s great."

There have also been a number of questions from residents who already compost at home, which Council encourages they continue, with the organics bin useful for waste that isn’t recommended people compost.

"Using the organic bin is easy. We already had a worm farm, but now we can responsibly dispose of meat, onion and citrus scraps too," a Wonthaggi family of five said.

"The biggest win for us is being able to add garden waste, leaves and clippings."

Council also delivered organics bins to four businesses located in Cowes, Wonthaggi and Inverloch in June to be case studies for the three-bin system.

All four businesses – Kuta Café, A Maze’n’Things, Coffee Collective and Vaughan’s Café and Deli – were impressed with their new organics bins, with their staff jumping on board Bass Coast’s 'war on waste'.

"It’s a great initiative by the Council. It’s good for businesses looking for ways to reduce their waste and also make themselves more sustainable in the long run. It’s been adopted really well by the staff and there’s a positive energy surrounding it," Coffee Collective owner, James Archibald, said.

"The other positive is that it aligns with the way the whole world is going and what customers expect from us in terms of being sustainable and using recycled products where we can to reduce our waste. It ticks all of those boxes."

A Maze’N’Things has also jumped on board Bass Coast’s war on waste to become a more environmentally sustainable business.

In addition to Council’s organics bin, they have also removed plastic bags, reduced the amount of packaging they use, are feeding some of their food scrapt to chooks, and have removed plastic straws from the counter and only give them out when requested.

The new bin system, which involves weekly collection of the green lidded organics bin and alternating fortnightly collection of the yellow lidded recycle bin and red lidded general waste bin will begin the week starting 4 September.



Staff at the Coffee Collective in Wonthaggi love the environmental benefits of Council’s new organics bin.



Using Council’s new organics bin is just one way A Maze’N’Things have made their business more environmentally sustainable.

For more information contact:

Simone Short

media communications officer

t (03) 5671 2703 | f (03) 5671 2222 | m 0400 804 187

e simone.short@basscoast.vic.gov.au

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com