‍

Cloth nappy rebates

East Gippsland Shire Council is committed to supporting best waste practices in our communities and is happy to be introducing a rebate on reusable cloth nappies, reusable sanitary products and composting products.

Every year, more than 8600 tonnes of general waste is collected from households across East Gippsland Shire and disposed of in landfill.

Disposable nappies and sanitary products take up valuable space in landfill and are estimated to take up to 500 years to break down.

The good news is that there is an abundance of reusable alternatives on the market including modern cloth nappies, cloth sanitary pads and leakproof underwear. These reusable options can help individuals divert waste from landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money.

We are pleased to offer eligible East Gippsland Shire residents the chance to apply for a rebate of 50 per cent of the purchase price of eligible reusable sanitary products, cloth nappy products or composting products up to a maximum of $40.

Please read the Terms and Conditions on the application form.

You can apply at eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/forms/product-rebate-application-form.

‍

Textile recycling trial

Did you know that over 7% of general waste disposed from households comprises of textiles?  This equates to an average of 1.2 kg of clothing or other textile materials per week per household ending up in Landfill.

With over 21,000 kerbside collection bins across East Gippsland Shire, approximately 1,300 tons of textile waste go into landfill each year, with charities that sell used clothing disposing of further 300 tons.

To reduce the volume of textiles going to landfill, we are trialing a textile collection program at the Bairnsdale Landfill.

Depending on the take up of this service, we will explore the possible expansion of the program.

Residents can dispose of clean textile waste (that cannot be given to charity shops) at the Bairnsdale Landfill from 1 July 2023 for $8.00 per bag (up to 80 litre) or $12 per bin (quarter of a cubic metre).

The minimum charge is $2, which covers a single item.

Textiles will then be baled by the Bairnsdale Recycling Enterprise Inc. and sent to Textile Recyclers Australia, where they sort and recycle the textiles through various streams.

‍

Recycling trial survey

As part of our textile recycling trial we are collecting information about where and how East Gippsland residents source their clothing and other textiles and how they dispose of textiles at the end of their life. This will help us analyse the material flow, which is essential for developing a circular economy solution for textiles.

Please help us by filling out a short survey by clicking here. The survey has 9 questions and will take 1-2 minutes to fill.

‍

What can I do to manage green waste at home or on the farm?

Worm farm

Having a worm farm in the garden or backyard is a fun and easy way for anyone to participate in sustainable practices and help to reduce organic waste that would otherwise end up in landfill. Worm castings (a.k.a. worm poop) are rich in nutrients and serve as a natural fertiliser for plants, promoting healthy growth and increased yield.

‍

Compost bin

Another great option is to start composing your kitchen organics in a compost bin. It’s easy to compost even if you have a limited outdoor space as they won’t take up much room in your courtyard or small garden. You can gather organic materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps and coffee grounds in a container in your home. Empty the container into the compost bin outdoors, layering the materials with dry materials like leaves or straw. Keep the compost moist and turn it regularly until it is ready to use.

Garden mulch

As the colder weather approaches and the time for garden pruning is near, it’s time to think about what to do with all your twigs and leaves. Why not try mulching your garden waste at home?

Just gather organic materials like leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs. Shred or chop the material into small pieces and spread it evenly over the soil. Allow it to decompose and nourish the soil.

Mulching will help improve soil health, retain moisture and reduce weed growth thereby reducing the need for chemical fertilisers while promoting healthy plant growth. Home mulching decreases the amount of waste that decomposes in landfills, which can produce methane gas and contribute to climate change. Mulching is an easy and sustainable way to minimise household waste.

Rebates available

We offer a reusable product rebate which includes compost bin and worm farms. See our online form for more information or to apply.

Home composting guide

To learn more about composting, see our Home Composting Guide.

‍

Ban on Single Use Plastic from 1 February 2023

Banned items are:

• drinking straws

• cutlery including knives, forks, spoons, chopsticks, sporks, splades, food picks and sporks

• plates

• drink stirrers and sticks

• cotton bud sticks

• expanded polystyrene food service items and drink containers. This includes expanded polystyrene plates, cups, bowls, clam shells and any cover or lid that is also made from expanded polystyrene.

The ban applies to businesses and organisations including not-for-profits, government, sports clubs, schools, and others that are incorporated. Some exemptions apply.

It is the responsibility of all Victorian businesses and organisations to comply with the Regulations and not sell or supply certain single-use plastic items, including to patrons or customers.

Council contacted all registered food premises in East Gippsland to advise of the ban and provide some recommendations for alternate products. Council continues to research alternatives.

For more information refer to Reducing plastic pollution starts with us.

‍

Mallacoota Kitchen to Compost

Kitchen to Compost is a program operating in Mallacoota that collects food and garden waste, and composts it locally. Beginning in 2010 as a collaboration between Council, Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group, and the Mallacoota community, the program aims to reduce the amount of organic waste in landfills.

Kitchen to Compost offers numerous benefits for both residents and the environment.

• It reduces landfill waste. In East Gippsland, 44% of all waste sent to landfill is organic (according to Council's 2021 waste audit). When organic waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Recycling organics through composting or other methods helps mitigate these emissions and reduces the environmental impact.

• By removing organics from the waste stream, the strain on our landfill capacity is also reduced, and the life of the landfill is extended, which can lead to cost savings in the long term.

• An otherwise wasted resource is salvaged and turned into nutrient-rich compost. The average East Gippsland household generates about 7kg of compostable waste per week. That equates to more than 100kg of mature compost per year.

• This compost can be used to enrich soil in gardens and landscaping, improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient content. Council uses the compost in parks and gardens, as well as in landfill rehabilitation.

What can I put in Kitchen to Compost?

The organics bin will accept garden waste and lawn clippings like a normal green waste bin, but it will also accept any kitchen organic material.

The following is a guide to what may be put in the bin:

· Fruit and vegetable scraps

· Meat scraps and bones

· Fish and seafood (incl. shells)

· Dairy products

· Pasta and rice

· Bread and bread products

· Teabags and coffee grounds

· Tissues and paper towels

· Pet manures and compostable kitty litter

· Lawn clippings

· Garden prunings (including weeds and rose trimmings)

· Twigs and branches under 75mm in diameter

· Hair

What can’t I put in the organics bin?

Synthetic products such as plastics, flowerpots, hoses, nappies and non-compostable plastic bags cannot go in the organics bin. Fragments of these products will eventually end up in the processed compost, resulting in spreading microplastics through the environment.

How it works

Collect your food scraps in your caddy.

You don't have to use a liner, but if you'd like to, certified compostable liners are available at Mallacoota Service Centre, supermarkets and Bendigo Bank. It is important to use certified home compostable liners - plastic bin liners contaminate the end product. You can also use a piece of paper towel to line their kitchen caddy, or even folded newspaper.

Once your caddy is full, empty the contents into your green-lidded wheelie bin.

While you're out in the garden, perhaps doing some pruning ahead of fire season or just a general spruce up, you can pop your green waste directly into your green bin (excluding branches more than 75mm in diameter).

Your green-lidded wheelie bin is collected fortnightly from your kerbside, alternating with recycling.

I’d like to request a green bin

You need to contact us to set up your new waste service for your property.

You can set up your service by filling in our Waste Service Request form or by contacting us by phone or in person. Details available here at Contact Us.

I already compost. How can Kitchen to Compost help me?

If you are already composting, then you already know the benefits of having a compost pile or worm farm.

The organics bin will complement what you are already doing by taking those additional items that are hard to compost or that the worms don’t want to eat.

These items include:

• Meat, seafood and bones

• Citrus fruits

• Cooked foods, oils and fats

• Pet manures

• Diseased plants and weeds

• Excess lawn clippings and leaves