Need to Know:

● Up to 40% of Alexandrina’s landfill is from food and garden waste that could be turned into nutrient-rich compost.
● You can green bin it, compost it, feed it to worms, bokashi it or create community compost.

Composting is the process of breaking down organic waste materials, such as food scraps, leaves, grass clippings, paper or cardboard, into a natural fertiliser for your plants. It has many benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and producing a natural fertiliser that can improve soil health. This process is facilitated by microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and other decomposers like worms, which break down the organic matter. Over time, the organic matter breaks down into a dark, crumbly substance that is rich in nutrients. It is a simple and effective way to reduce the amount of organic waste that goes into landfill. There are a number of different ways you can create compost.

Green Bins: Alexandrina residents can compost their organic waste via council's green bin service. You can put food and organic waste in this bin.

You can collect your waste inside in a kitchen caddy – a small bin for food and organic waste – with a compostable liner bag. Alexandrina Council provides all residents with a 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of kitchen caddies and rolls of compostable liner bags. You can buy caddies and compostable bags at Council’s offices in Goolwa or Strathalbyn Office.

Compost at Home: Another option is to start your own compost. Home composting can be done in several ways, including backyard composting, using worm farms and community-scale composting. It requires space and time but there are a range of different systems available for households. You’ll need to consider:

• how much food and garden waste your household generates,
• which compost system is best for your space,
• how much time you have to maintain your compost, and
• where you will use the compost you generate.

Backyard Compost: A backyard compost system is great way to process large quantities of food and garden waste. It requires a patch of earth or a compost bin.  The compost is made from green (food scraps and green garden waste), and brown materials (brown leaves, hay, sawdust, cardboard and paper). The green materials are the nitrogen component and the brown are carbon. Overall, the compost mix must contain a ratio of 20:1 or 30:1 nitrogen to carbon. A regular rotation of the mix will ensure a good aeration. For this, you can use a pitchfork or a specialised compost screw.

Compost Tumbler: A good solution for backyards that do not have a grassed or soil area is a compost tumbler. It is a compost bin on a frame that is rotated to mix and aerate the materials. This system follows the same ratio principles as a standard backyard compost.

Worm Farm: Worm farms use worms to break down organic waste into nutrient-rich compost and a worm tea. It’s especially good for food waste (though not meat and dairy, and oily or processed foods). Food scraps are added to the upper tray for the worms to feast on. Over time worm casting builds up in the lower tray and can be harvested to add to your garden. You will also need to add paper, cardboard or coconut coir to provide bedding material for the worms.  These systems come in a range of shapes and sizes and can even fit small spaces, like apartment balconies. They are easy to maintain but need a shady spot.

Bokashi: Bokashi is a fermentation process that originated in Japan. Organic materials are layered with an added mix of specific microorganisms and then sealed to ferment for several weeks. These materials will break down and produce a compost suitable for the garden. This process can compost meat and dairy products and is faster than other composting methods. Bokashi composting is also a great way to reduce waste in small spaces, such as an apartment or balcony. The process is anaerobic, with no unpleasant odour.

Community Compost: If you don’t have the space or the time to manage a compost system on your own you can still get involved in a communal one. Check out with your local community garden if they have compost bins in which you can drop your waste.

• Cittaslow Goolwa Community Garden - 145 Kessell Road, Goolwa
• Strath Neighbourhood Centre Community Garden - 6 Parker Avenue, Strathalbyn, SA
• Clayton Bay Community Garden - 6 Alexandrina Drive (corner Grand View Dr), Clayton Bay, SA
• Milang Community Garden - Corner Coxe & Rivers St, Milang, SA

Another option is Share Waste that connects you to your neighbours who may have compost bins. You can also reduce food waste through better meal planning and the use of apps like Saveful to make better use of leftovers.

Need to Know

• Kerbside recycling goes in your yellow bin
• You can get money back on containers through the Contain er Deposit Scheme
• Hazardous materials should be taken to your local waste recovery centre

Alexandrina Council manages a fortnight collection of general waste, recycling and green organics. Here’s what can go in the yellow recycling bin:

Not all recyclables can be collected through your council's recycling system. If you’re not sure about what can be recycled, check out the Which Bin SA website, that has detailed of exactly what can be picked up in your area and, if you have to take it to a depot, where to go.

Container Deposit Scheme: South Australia has a container deposit scheme that allows residents to get a refund when returning empty drinking containers. The following types of drinks and containers can receive a refund.

Hazardous Items: Hazardous or large items that can't go through the general waste stream may need to go to recovery centres. Hazardous waste products include:

• garden chemicals – e.g. pesticides, weedkillers and fertilisers
• insect repellents and rat poison
• cleaners – e.g. oven cleaner, toilet cleaner, bleach, ammonia and furniture polish
• automotive products – e.g. fuel, lubricants and degreasers
• home improvement products – e.g. paints, thinners and adhesives, batteries and pool chlorine.

Recovery Centres: You can take containers for the Container Deposit Scheme and hazardous materials to your local waste recover centre:

• GOOLWA – 1226 Port Elliot Road, Goolwa 5214. Phone 08 8555 7405.
• STRATHALBYN – Forrest Road, Strathalbyn 5255. Phone 08 8536 4743.

Some private companies also offer recycling service for hazardous items:

• Officeworks for e-waste and batteries
• Terra cycle for specific hard-to-recycle waste streams
• Upparel for clothing, linens and shoes (paid service)

The best way to manage waste is to reduce it. Buy less. Recycle and compost.

Some of the ways we can reduce waste include:

• buying second-hand or borrowing items, such as clothes, rather than buying new
• choosing products that can be recycled or that contain recycled materials
• avoiding packaging, and recycling where possible
• avoiding items with individual wrapping
• buying in bulk to reduce packaging
• using a reusable fruit and vegetable bag or skip the bag altogether
• using a basket, box or reusable shopping bag
• refusing plastic bags, cutlery and napkins when we don't need them
• eating leftovers and composting food scraps
• using your green bin for garden waste
• repairing or donating quality items

You can learn more about recycling in Alexandrina and how you can handle your organic waste here:

• Recycling
• Organic waste