Cardinia Shire Council will consider implementing a food waste kerbside collection service.
Council has confirmed it will investigate such a service as a way to decrease landfill.
The news comes after the signing of a “landmark contract” with Veolia Environmental Services, Cleanaway and Sacyr Environment Australia will enable council to further reduce landfill waste through recycling.
Cardinia Shire Council’s waste management services co-ordinator Misty Johannsen said council had been working on securing the contracts for organic waste collection for the past five years.
Locally, organic waste from homes and businesses makes up around 42 per cent of waste going to landfill.
“It’s been some time in the making, but these new agreements will go a long way in addressing a gap in facilities in the region, and allow council to investigate the viability of food waste kerbside collection services in the future,” Ms Johannsen said.
“This contract will enable council to divert even more household organic waste away from landfill, turning it into useful products for improving soil, growing healthy gardens, and supporting food production.”
Cardinia is now one of eight councils in south east Victoria participating in landmark contracts for future recycling of organic waste at the kerbside.
Ms Johannsen said council would use the contract to assess the need for a kerbside collection service.
The companies will process organic waste collected across the shire until 2032.
