How Nillumbik Shire Council reduced contamination in the organics bin

Last updated: 1 August 2023
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The food and garden waste collected from kerbside organics bins in Nillumbik Shire was too contaminated to be recycled into compost. In response, the council launched Bin Blitz: a bin inspection and education program that reduced the number of contaminated bins by 63% in just nine months.

Snapshot

Organisation

Nillumbik Shire Council

Project

Bin Blitz program to reduce contamination in the combined food and garden organics kerbside collection service.

Objectives

Help residents use the organics bin correctly to decrease contamination and allow maximum composting of waste so the council avoids sending waste to landfill and paying contamination penalties

Outcomes

  • Number of contaminated household organics bins reduced from 12 to 4.45% (63% reduction)
  • Contamination by weight reduced from 10.5 to 0.79% (92% reduction)
  • Estimated saving in avoided penalty costs of $280,000

Case study

How Nillumbik Shire Council reduced contamination in the organics bin

The council launched Bin Blitz, a bin inspection and education program that reduced the number of contaminated bins by 63 per cent in just nine months.

Want to know more?

Get in touch with:

Hannah Burns

Nillumbik Shire Council

03 9433 3516

Hannah.Burns@nillumbik.vic.gov.au