Green Waste FAQs

Why is Kingborough Council introducing a kerbside GO service?

• The service is being introduced to reduce the amount of garden organics going to landfill. The green waste bins will divert around 100 full garbage trucks of garden organics from landfill each year.
• Diverting green organics from landfill helps mitigate climate change. When buried in landfill, green waste undergoes decomposition and creates toxic methane gas which is harmful to the environment. When diverted from landfill and turned into compost, green waste is a valuable matter which can isolate carbon from the air and put it back into the soil.

When is the serviced being introduced?

• The service will start on Monday 5 October 2020 to all eligible property owners registered for the service. Your first collection will occur from this date on the same day as your recycling bin but on the opposite week.
• Please do not place your bin out before this date bins will not be collected prior to the commencement of the service.

Who will be eligible for the GO service?

• The kerbside green waste collection service will automatically be provided to properties who meet the following criteria:
• Properties that are currently on the kerbside general waste and recycling service and are;
  • Larger than 400 square metres.
  • Smaller than 4,000 square metres.
• Unit complexes that have three or less units.
• Properties that are currently on the kerbside general waste and recycling service but outside these parameters can opt-in to the service.

What is the cost of the FOGO service?

• A charge of $95 will be applied for the 2021-22 financial year.

Can I opt-out of the GO service?

• If you do not wish to be part of the service, you can opt-out by completing the online opt-out form on Council’s website at www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/green-waste or alternatively you can visit the Council Civic Centre in Kingston to complete the form.

 

Can I opt in to the service?

• Yes, if you are on the current kerbside general waste and recycling service you can opt-in to the service at the Kingborough Council website www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/green-waste
• Unfortunately if you are not on the current kerbside general waste and recycling service you will not be able to opt-in to the service.

What if I want to opt in/out while the bin roll out is happening?

• Requests to opt in or opt out of the service during the bin roll out in July, will be carried out at the completion of the bin roll out. Your rates notice will be amended as this application is made.
• Residents that have opted in during this period, will have their bin delivered on Thursday 30 July. Residents who have opted out during the bin roll out, will have their bin collected on or after Friday 31 July.

Can a tenant of a property opt-in to the service?

• Only the property owner can request to opt-in to service as the service fee is applied to the rates notice of the property owner, not to the tenant. If you are a Tenant of a property in a current waste and recycling collection area and do not receive GO service, contact your landlord to discuss opting-in and any associated costs.

Can I have additional bins?

• Yes, provided the application is made by the property owner you can have multiple bins with a further service charge applying to each bin. Applications need to be made in writing to kc@kingborough.tas.gov.au or at https://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/forms/ (This form will be updated prior to the commencement of the bin roll out).

When will my bin be delivered?

• A new 240 litre mobile garbage bin with a light green lid should now have been delivered to your property.

What can I put in my GO bin?

• Weeds
• Grass Clippings
• Flowers
• Leaves
• Prunings
• Twigs
• Small branches (shorter than 30cm and less than 10cm in diameter)

What can’t I put in my GO bin?

• Soil
• Large branches and logs
• Concrete/ Rock / Ceramics
• Animal droppings
• General waste or recycling
• Food waste
• Plastic
• Plastic bags
• Metal
• Paper or cardboard
• Building materials
• Nappies
• Textiles

When will my GO bin be collected?

• The fortnightly service will empty your green waste bin the same day as your current kerbside recycling bin but on the opposite week.

Can we put food scraps in our bin?

• The service is for green waste only at this time.
• Kingborough Council did consider the introduction of a full Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service but this is currently cost prohibitive as the only processing site for FOGO in the south of the state is located at Oatlands.
• Kingborough is currently working with the Hobart and Glenorchy City councils through an Expression of Interest process to identify a potential operator for a local processing facility for the southern councils.

What happens to the Green Waste once it is collected?

• The collection vehicles transport the collected green waste to a depot in Brighton for decontamination and transport to the Pure Living Soils composting facility. The green waste is then chipped and goes through a regulated process to produce compost and mulch.