Project OverviewWaste Pathways: Outlook 2007

Justin Lang, City of Burnside

Overview

• Trial preparation – lead times• Background info on GO presentation• Scope of organics audits• Participation & barriers to uptake• Resident survey• Composting sessions• Recommendations

Implementation

• Large trial area

• Representative housing, demographics, etc

• Limited contact with residents

• Professional information for community

Trial brochure

• Key messages:– Fortnightly service– Place material in GO Bin– Clean & simple to use– Current service has

achieved 56% diversion – 50% of residual stream is

organic (2004 CoB audit)– Bio baskets will help divert

up to 75% of residential waste stream

– As easy as one, two, three…

Audit methodology

Adapted from Kerbside Performance reporting:• Assess participation and resident behaviour

(contamination, no. of bags);• Monitor presentation rates, tonnages, yields per

household;• Assess WHERE organics are going (both waste

and GO streams).

Results

• Participation• Contamination• Diversion (and potential diversion)• Weight per bag• Bag consumption• Yields per household (kilograms)

2004 Kerbside Audit (W&R)Composition of material – as presented (n=76)

62% capacity 2nd bins 62%

69% capacity

recyclables

waste

Compostables(kg)

Not assessedCon

tents

not

ass

ess

ed.Not assessed

Not assessed

58% capacity

recyclables

waste

66% capacity

Compostables53.9%

Othermaterial23.0%

Recyclables17.9%

Misc plastics5.2%

Recyclables96.6%

05/06 Bio Basket Organics Audit (W&GO)Composition of material – as presented

(n=245, GO n=192, waste n=241)

Compostable green organic material (kg)

Food waste & compostable material (kg)

contamination (kg)

66% capacity, 2nd bins 65%

Typical participants

5.00 kg food waste/ fortnight

~17.00 kg green organics per

fortnight

Negligiblefood in residual

Rec. W

56% capacity

Conte

nts

not

ass

ess

ed.

59% capacity

Bio bags presented in GO bin

Food in residual

Rec. W

56% capacity

Conte

nts

not

ass

ess

ed.

“Non participants”

Substantial food in residual

Rec. W Rec. W

Participation

• 245* premises incl. in organics audits• 192/245 premises (78%) presented GO bins• 132/192 presented food waste in GO Bins

(69% of GO Bins presented). • Based upon kerbside audits, this represents a

participation rate of 54% (132/245).

• Home composters (~9-18) • 3.2 bags per wk/hh

Results - diversion

• 36.3% diversion of the residual organic waste

• 8.6% diversion of the total waste stream

green organics64.6%

diverted

15.4% organic

20% residualrecyclablesfood (8.6%)

Food waste per household

0

5

10

15

20

25

<.04kg

<2 kg <4 kg <6 kg <8 kg <10 kg <12 kg <14 kg <20 kg <54.96kg

% diversion of organics per household

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0% < 10% < 20% < 30% < 40% < 50% < 60% < 70% < 80% < 90% < 99.5% 100%

(No GO presented)

% diversion food waste per household

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

<1% < 10% < 20% < 30% < 40% < 50% < 60% < 70% < 80% < 90% < 99.5% 100%

Results - contamination

• Green organics stream– 2.79% contamination of green organics

bins (by weight)– 23% incident rate of contamination– Typically garden pots etc

• Negligible contamination within cornstarch bags

Results – telephone survey

• 98% trial community awareness• 84% had used the system• 77% continued to use the system (93%

were happy to continue)• 81% of current users and 48% former

users – “very easy” to use• No issues with odour• Willingness $, 5+ bags,

other disposal methods

Composting / sessions

• Telephone survey 38% (34) composting

• 13 resident info sessions (3 hr sessions) - free Gedye bin

• Part of exit strategy (in conjunction with continued use). Cornstarch bags available from Council office.

Kerbside collection

• Performance of trucks (monthly audits)• Weight per load & daily tonnages• Determine average yield / household• Contamination

– CCTV– 2 strikes policy– Removal of service

Barriers to uptake

• Basic GO service (since 1997) monthly (optional user-pays service)

• 39% dwelling units / flats• GO Bin ownership relatively low (~65%)• Split bin service collected weekly (by

necessity) compared with opportunity for Councils with 3 bin systems to reduce effective volume of residual waste containers (fortnightly collections)

Recommendations

• Reduce residual waste collection frequency (reduced cost of collection offsets bio basket cost & ongoing bag costs)

• This also has the potential to:- increase diversion ratio (for each h/hold) and - increase participation (get more onboard)

• LG report available.