Weekly Green Organic Trial
The City of Burnside has commenced an exciting new initiative - a trial of weekly green organics bin collection.
Starting in September, around 1,300 households and businesses in Beulah Park and the northern side of Kensington Park will have their green organics bin collected weekly and their red landfill bin collected fortnightly. The collection of yellow recycling bins will remain fortnightly.
Although a first for the city, similar trials have been successful in other South Australian councils. These trials have had great support among participating households and have reduced waste going to landfill.
Why trial weekly green organics collection?
• Bin collection should meet the needs of most households
Most household waste is organic waste from the kitchen and the garden. Additionally, most household landfill bins do not need to be collected weekly because they are half full or less. So it makes sense to increase the capacity of the green organics bin collection to better suit the community.
• Ease of use
Households will have their organics collected weekly, so do not need to worry about the smell or waiting another week for the collection of organics.
• Reducing landfill volumes
Providing weekly organics collection has been shown to increase the use of green organics bins for food waste. In this way, households are sending less material to landfill.
• Financial savings
It’s five times cheaper to compost organic material such as food waste, rather than sending it to landfill. Therefore by increasing the composting of food waste, weekly organics collection keeps pressure off Council rates.
• Improving environmental sustainability
The contents of the green organics bins are turned into valuable compost, rather than being wasted in landfill. When food waste is composted, it breaks down quickly. In contrast, when food waste goes to landfill, it breaks down slowly and releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
• Creating local jobs
The composting industry creates and supports more jobs than landfill sites.
What do locals think?
Rob from Beulah Park
City of Burnside resident for 25 years, Rob said his household is always mindful of what materials are placed in the organic and landfill bins.
‘This just makes sense to me and I’m very keen to be a part of the trial,’ Rob said.
As part of his gig on Coast FM, Rob produces a monthly radio segment called ‘Which bin’, where he ‘talks trash’ and the benefits of proper waste disposal. Rob said he tries to instil his passion for waste into his family and the wider community.
‘We use a kitchen caddy for kitchen scraps, and we are very mindful – even when our grandchildren are here – that they know the right product that goes in the green bin and caddy.
‘The trial is an excellent initiative and I fully support it.’
Rebecca from Beulah Park
Resident for 10 years and a busy mum to Amelia, Rebecca is another resident who will be part of the
six-month trial.
‘We compost any food scraps that we have, and we make sure to not over shop and buy too much food,’ Rebecca said.
‘It’s quite easy to do at home. Council provides the caddies and liners for free. All you need to do is have it on the bench, chuck your scraps in it and take it out to the green bin. It’s no more difficult than recycling or taking out landfill.
‘I just encourage people to be invested in the trial because the more we do as individuals, it can make a big difference collectively.’
Further information
The trial was approved by Council to support responsible waste management. The trial will run until the end of February 2025. The results will be reviewed by Council prior to the conclusion of the trial and residents will be updated on progress.
Households involved in the trial will receive a welcome pack, including detailed information and project resources. While most households are ready for this change, some households will need extra support. For example, Council can provide a larger landfill bin to help households.
Residents can call to find out more about the project on Council’s website, at burnside.sa.gov.au/weeklyorganics.
If you have any questions, please contact Council on 8366 4200 or email burnside@burnside.sa.gov.au
Rebecca and Amelia from Beulah Park
Rob from Beulah Park 
