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THE REAL COST OF GOING GREEN 
Dreaming of a Greener Christmas A common misconception regarding green waste is that it does not require nearly as much attention as non-biodegradable waste. The truth is, if not processed properly, green waste can be as problematic as non-biodegradable waste. The good news is, when managed correctly, green waste has a wide variety of recycling and reusable options.
So what exactly is green waste?
Green waste is waste that is biodegradable, such as grass trimmings, branches, food scraps, flowers etc. Green waste comprises of almost half of all the garbage produced by Australians making it all the more important that we dispose of it properly.
Currently, around a third of landfill waste bins in Australia contain recyclables or green waste. Meaning that a lot of biodegradable products that can be recycled or reused are ending up as landfill.
Part of what might be contributing to this is a lack of understanding as to what constitutes green waste is confusion as to what is allowed in the bin. State governments decide recycling legislations in Australia, but when it comes to routine bin collections then this is decided in the majority of cases by local governments with different guidelines depending on different councils. This means that some areas in the country have quite effective and impressive green waste programs, whilst other suburbs might yet to have even a kerbside green bin. As a result, the most effective way to ensure that your own green waste disposal is optimised is to check with your local council to see what their specific guidelines and policies are.
Where does green waste go when it’s recycled?
This is a great question and one that really differs from area to area. Most people are under the misconception that green waste is processed locally, but a lot of the time, the waste needs to be transported quite long distances in order for it to be recycled which can at times seem counterproductive.
Because recycling rules differ in each region in Australia each area has its own services for processing organic and green waste. The most important thing to remember, is that wherever it is processed, the end result remains the same and that is that all green waste eventually ends up as compost to be used for farms, gardens and parks and not as landfill.
Why is it so important to get on board with green recycling?
The fact is, our landfills are exploding and becoming an increasing problem, not just on a national level, but also on a global level. It is vital that we take recycling seriously and that we focus on optimising the amount of green waste that we can process and re-use effectively whilst also reducing landfill.
16.5 million tonnes of C02e (Carbon Dioxide equivalent) are released each year from food waste and over 5.3 million tonnes of food ends up in landfills each year, which could have been processed and composted.
Depositing green waste correctly and effectively benefits everyone from individual homeowners, councils as well as the greater global environment.
Here are a few of the benefits of correctly recycling green waste:
Reduce Landfills. This is fairly simple. The more green waste that is correctly recycled will reduce the amount going into landfills.
Reduce methane levels in the environment. You might think that it is ok for green waste to end up in landfills because it is biodegradable but what you need to remember is that organic matter that is thrown into landfills instead of being composted correctly will emit a large level of methane as it breaks down. Methane is known to directly contribute to atmospheric damage and global warming so effectively the more green mass that ends up in landfills the greater negative impact we are having on our environment.
Composts supports the ecosystem, reduces the need for pesticides and improves crop quality. Compost made from green waste is an excellent source of nutrients in soil and can help to promote deeper root systems whilst also decreasing the reliance on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Recycling green waste can reduce household expenditure. There is a big movement towards reducing waste and this applies especially to food. Increasingly people are looking a ways or reusing their leftover food and creating new meals, which is a great way to not only limit waste but also cut down on expenses.
It is vital that we all get on board the recycling journey and try and minimize the environmental impact on our planet. Correctly recycling green waste is a highly effective way to elevate pressure on landfills whilst at the same time providing a product that has environment benefits. Because of the differing guidelines between different regions in Australia, all of us need to take an active approach to green waste and get in contact with our local councils to see what they are doing and how we can all do more. The planet will thank us!