The News Hub

Published: 18 May 2026.

Did you know that most household waste can be recycled or composted? Putting the right items in the right bins isn’t just good practice, it’s one of the simplest ways our community can help keep waste management costs down.

Waste collection and disposal make up a significant portion of Council’s budget and those costs continue to rise. Landfill is by far the most expensive option, and when recyclable or compostable material ends up there, it increases disposal costs unnecessarily. Ultimately, those costs flow back to households through council rates. The good news? By using bins correctly, residents can help reduce cost pressures.

Green Organics Bin – Better for Budgets and the Environment

Any food waste belongs in your green organics bin. This includes fruit and vegetable scraps, mouldy bread, leftovers, bones, seafood and coffee grounds. Many other items are also compostable and belong in the green organics bin, such as pizza boxes, cardboard clamshells, wooden cutlery, paper napkins, paper towel and tissues.

From a cost perspective, sending compostable materials to landfill costs more than five times as much sending it to a commercial composter. From an environmental perspective, composting is also the responsible choice. Food doesn’t break down quickly in landfill. In fact, food can remain there for decades. As it breaks down without oxygen, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Commercial composting facilities process food and garden waste efficiently and quickly, producing compost that can be used on farms and gardens. To keep this system working well, it’s important that organics bins stay clean. Only place food scraps, garden waste and items clearly labelled compostable in the green bin. Plastic bags and hard plastics do not belong there.

Recycling Bin – Quality Matters

Materials from yellow-lidded recycling bins are sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility using screens, magnets, conveyors, robots and hand sorting. Contamination such as soft plastics, clothing, crockery and batteries creates extra handling, and can damage machinery, creating additional costs and safety risks.

Burnside residents already have relatively low contamination rates, which helps reduce costs and ensures materials are recycled properly. The recycled materials also reduce demand for virgin materials and typically generate lower carbon emissions, delivering environmental benefits for the community.

By continuing to put the right things in the right bins, you can help Council deliver a responsible, cost‑effective waste management service that benefits the whole community.

Not sure which bin to use? Visit www.whichbin.sa.gov.au(External link) or call 1300 137 118.