Background
In Australia, over 5 million tonnes of food ends up as landfill, enough to fill 9,000 Olympic sized swimming pools!
Food waste that is sent to landfill decomposes to produce potent greenhouse gases. Instead, if recovered, this nutrient-rich resource can be used to produce valuable biogas, compost and soil conditioners.
With the help of a State Government Community and Industry Engagement (CIE) grant, the City of Cockburn is running a 3-month Commercial Food Waste Trial. This trial provides a free food waste collection service to local food retailers and restaurants to prevent waste going to landfill and reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions. In this trial, food waste will be sent to Richgro’s anaerobic digestion plant in Jandakot, to generate high quality biofertiliser and electricity (via methane capture) to go back into the electricity grid.
This trial will help the City determine the benefits of a commercial food waste collection service, in order to reduce costs and improve resource recovery levels. As part of the trial, business participants are provided with training, food waste bins and compostable bin liners. The City's waste team will be monitoring the trial and any contamination, to ensure a clean product can be delivered.
Get involved
The City's Commercial Food Waste Trial will help local businesses (such as food retailers and restaurants) to become more environmentally sustainable, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste to landfill, and reduce costs of the general waste service.
Local businesses interested in becoming involved in this Commercial Food Waste trial must submit an application form in the link below.
Commercial Food Waste Application Form
Each application will be assessed and eligible trial businesses will be notified within five business days.
More information and contact
If you have any further queries, contact the City's Waste Education Coordinator on 9411 3444.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)