If you are running out of ideas to do at home during this time of isolation, why not get into sorting and separating your household waste?
The 2019 NetWaste audit found that 50% of the average Parkes household bin is made up of recyclable materials and food and garden waste.
Over the course of a three-week period, three tonnes of general waste, recycling, and food and garden waste were collected from Parkes households to provide a detailed break-down of waste streams.
The general waste red-lid bin contained 18% recyclable materials and 32% food and garden organics.
“If sorted correctly, paper and cardboard can be recycled into products such as corrugated and kraft paper,” said chair of the Parkes Shire Waste Facilities Committee, Cr Alan Ward.
“Garden and organic waste can be processed into compost. These valuable resources are too good to waste.”
Organic material has a detrimental impact on the environment when sent to landfill. It produces large quantities of methane when compacted and buried in landfill, as it breaks down without oxygen.
By diverting food and garden waste from landfill using the green-lid waste bin, it is turned into compost. Sorting materials into the appropriate bin also diverts waste from landfill and contributes to the longevity of the local waste facilities.
To learn more about what is accepted in your three-bin service, visit Council’s website at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.