NZ food waste collection trial

Some 2000 new food waste collection bins have been delivered to Putaruru residents for the new kerbside collection service starting 5 April. Putaruru is the first town in New Zealand to trial the innovative dedicated food waste collection service which has been initiated by Earthcare Environmental and the South Waikato District Council.

The 12-month trial will see food waste collected separately from general waste in a move designed to reduce the volume of organic waste taken to the landfill and ultimately improve the impact of waste collection on the environment.

On Saturday all residents in Putaruru will be supplied with a purpose-built kitchen caddy plus a supply of biodegradable caddy liners to be used for the daily disposal of food waste, and a special blue bin for kerbside collection of their weekly household food waste. The caddy is specially vented to dry out food waste and therefore reduce odours, and the kerbside collection bin has a lockable lid to deter pests. Full instructions about how to use Earthcare’s innovative new food waste system will be provided with the bins.

The Putaruru trial follows the recent launch of a report by Eunomia Research on food waste in landfills. The research, commissioned by Earthcare Environmental, revealed that up to 40% of general waste going to landfills is food waste where it not only contributes to the cost of waste management but also, as it decomposes, generates destructive greenhouse gases. A more sustainable option for food waste is to remove it from the general waste stream and recycle as compost.

Mike Jones, Managing Director Earthcare Environmental, says the company is thrilled to be trialling its new waste management initiative with the South Waikato District Council. “The Putaruru community has an opportunity to experience the benefits of a dedicated food waste collection service and to demonstrate to the entire country the positive environmental and economic impacts of doing so.”

The food waste collected by Earthcare Environmental will be taken to Environfert’s food waste processing facility in Tuakau to be recycled into compost for agricultural and horticultural use.