Students from Caulfield South Primary School visited composting facility Veolia in Dandenong South today to see what happens to Glen Eira’s food and garden waste.

With food waste recycling commencing in the City of Glen Eira today, the students watched as Council trucks full of food scraps and garden waste came into the composting facility.

As part of the tour, students were told where their food and garden waste ends up, how it is processed and the difficulties that contaminants present.

Caulfield South Primary School Learning Technologies Co-ordinator Ashleigh Browne said the students have been learning about waste and recycling and in particular the importance of reducing food waste.

“Our Year 4 students have been investigating the war on waste in Australia, in particular our food waste and single-use plastic bags,” she said.

“With our findings, we are working towards creating solutions to take action against these issues in our school and in the local community.”

Glen Eira Mayor Cr Tony Athanasopoulos said all food scraps including leftovers, meat, dairy, fruit and vegetable scraps can now go into the green bin.

“This food and garden waste will be turned into compost and then used in parks, gardens and farms to improve soil, rather than being buried in landfill,” he said.

“We need to divert as much food waste as possible into the green bin. This will help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste and save on costs."

Council is offering residents a free kitchen caddy to collect food scraps in your kitchen, when it is full, simply empty it into your green bin alongside your garden waste. A brochure will be delivered with the kitchen caddy with all the information you need on your caddy, and what can be included in your green waste service.

To order your free kitchen caddy, visit www.gleneira.vic.gov.au or contact Council’s Service Centre on 9524 3333.

For further information on reducing and recycling your food waste, visit Council's website