Kitchen Organics Another Piece in the Puzzle

1. Kitchen Organics Another Piece in the Puzzle Background - Port Macquarie Hastings Council • Located on the Mid North Coast of NSW • Has a population of 72,000 • Provides 26,000 domestic waste services • Has a DWM charge of $305 p.a - recycling - organics - residual - bulky goods • Has one principal landfill supported by transfer stations • Has an ORRF • Has a MRF • Annual rainfall of 1,200mm/annum • Has been described as the best cllimate in Australia.

4. “Every now & again you get the opportunity to do something of significance” such as………… • A new waste collection contract • A new ORRF • A new MRF • A new strategy Waste Collection Contract • Established a file some 3 years prior to preparing the new contract specification • Saved important information such as short comings in the current contract, reflect industry changes, just plain good ideas • Align with waste strategic direction • Undertook trials such as the food waste trials (see www.Midwaste.org)

5. Food Waste Trial • 1,200 premises - 300 reference group, standard fortnightly 240ltr service - 300 fortnightly 240ltr cleanaway Bio Insert bin - 300 weekly 240ltr - 300 weekly 240ltr plus kitchen tidy with compostable liner • Focus group, both cornstarch and paper compostable bags • Trialled the bags through the ORRF Results > 30% greater capture of organics with the weekly service and the kitchen tidies.

6. New Collection Contract • Included an option for a weekly organics collection service • Included a provisional sum of $100,000 p.a (CPI linked) for the payment, storage, assembly and distribution of kitchen tidies and compostable liners • Separately tendered the supply of tidies/liners - $3.50 tidy - $10.50 roll of 150 liners - $7.00 storage, assembly, distribution So Far ……………….. • 5000 kitchen tidies/liners have been distributed in the first 6 months • Is optimal and “free” • No universal roll out

7. Residual Waste Since the introduction of an organic collection residual waste has shown a reduction of 5%

8. Organic Waste Since the introduction of an organic collection, within the last 8 months collection of organic waste has increased by 35%

9. About Your Home • 1. What type of home do you live in? • Single dwelling • Townhouse/villa • Unit • 2. How many people live in your home permanently? • ..……… Adults • ..……… Children (0-18 years of age) • About Communicating with You • 3. How do you most often find out about changes in waste management services in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area? • Council’s quarterly newsletter • Newspaper • Radio • Television • Word of mouth • Other (please specify)

10. About your Organics service • 4. Prior to receiving your kitchen tidy how did you dispose of your foodwaste? • Into the red waste bin • Compost bin/ worm farm at home • Into the green bin • Other (please specify) • Any additional comments? • Since receiving your kitchen tidy and cornstarch bags, have you been placing the bags of food waste in your green organics bin? • Yes • No • If No, why not? • *Note: the food waste must be placed in your green bin to be recovered and composted.

11. 5. What types of food waste have you been placing in your kitchen tidy? Please tick the boxes below, and estimate the percentage. • Food type % • Fruit & vegetables ..……… • Bread ..……… • Plate scrapings ..……… • Tea bags & coffee grounds ..……… • Other (please specify) • 6. Have you had any problems while using your kitchen tidy? Please tick the boxes that apply. • Problems None Some Often Always • Mess • Odours • Flies • Leakage • Additional comments:

12. 7. Do you find the kitchen tidy convenient? • Yes • No • 8. Will you continue to use the kitchen tidy in the future? • Yes • No • If No, why not? • 9. Do you know what happens to the organic material from your green bin? • Yes • No • If Yes please provide detail below • 10. Do you prefer the weekly service to the previous fortnightly pickup? • Yes • No

13. 11. On average, how full is your organics bin when it is placed out for collection each week? • ¼ full • ½ full • ¾ full • Full • Comments • 12. If you have any other comments or ideas please write them below and attach additional pieces of paper if required: • Your Details* • Name: • Suburb: • Phone number: • Please remember – as a community we are trying to reduce waste. Use your cornstarch bags sparingly (remember you can wrap additional foodwaste in newspaper when necessary) before placing in your green organics bin. Overall thankyou and congratulations on your efforts to reduce waste and help the environment!

14. Audit • % of contamination • % of foodwaste • Number of bags

15. Some Tips • Give serious consideration when adopting additional services, as once committed, it is difficult to roll back • You need the supporting infrastructure:- - ORRF (windrow composting) - collection contract - bio-solids - woody wastes • “If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there” - need of formal strategy and supporting business plans • You need a marketing plan

16. The “Wildcard” • Carbon trading - national trading scheme by 2010 with a value of $4 billion • PMHC currently generates >30,000 tpa of carbon offsets through the ORRF • One tonne CO2 equivalent has a value of $10 - $30 • Establish ownership ASAP