How to compost in Brisbane: Healthy Planet Hacks

Today, we’re using more fresh produce when we’re cooking than ever before. And while fresh produce is great for our diet, the consequences of organic food waste can be detrimental to our environment and ecosystems.

By disposing of unwanted food products properly, through composting, we can contribute to a healthier planet, while still enjoying our favourite fresh foods. It’s a win-win!

There are a number of programs and activities in our local Brisbane community that can help us, help the planet, by reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, creating a more livable and sustainable city.

Community composting hub

For some, the thought of composting can be overwhelming and time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be! Brisbane City Council has partnered with various gardens around Brisbane to transform our scraps into sustenance for our soil. The aim of the program is to create a community composting network and reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill. Once you’ve registered with community composting, you’ll be eligible to collect a free kitchen caddie from your local office ward to gather your scraps in. These can then be transported to a local composting hub (there are more than 20 across the city) where your waste will be transformed into nutrient-rich soil for local gardens, making for healthier plants in the community and a greener Brisbane.

Composting workshops

The Brisbane City Council will also be running sustainability workshops at various locations across the city. New to composting? These workshops will teach you how to create your very own sustainable backyard garden (using compost, of course) from scratch, where you can even grow your own fresh produce! Workshops are free and bookings are essential.

Flannery’s Organic Health Food Stores and Wholefood

Did you know that there will be more plastic than fish by 2050 if we don’t change our ways?

In the wake of ‘Keep Australia Beautiful Week’, the team at Flannery’s Organic Health Food Stores and Wholefood is encouraging action and inspiring communities to consider the facts. Flannery’s recommends we choose environmentally-friendly products and plastic alternatives. They offer a range of authentic eco and plastic-free options in-store, including beeswax wraps to replace plastic food wraps, compostable bags and reusable mesh fruit and veggie bags for your shopping. For more information on sustainability and nutritious recipes, visit Flannery’s website.

REDcycle bins

Soft plastics being incorrectly placed into household recycling bins is another cause for concern (in fact, most councils around Australia won’t accept them).

These soft plastics can be disposed of in REDcycle bins, found at big supermarkets including Woolworths and Coles! REDcycle is a recycling initiative used to keep soft plastic packaging out of landfill. Your unwanted soft plastics will be reused to create useful items such as fitness equipment and benches. Remember – if it’s soft enough to scrunch, it can go into the REDcycle bin! That includes bread bags, biscuit packets (wrapper only), paper goods packaging, pasta and rice bags, frozen food and veggie bags, confectionery bags, plastic bags, old green bags and cereal box liners. REDcycle cannot accept plastic bottles, plastic containers, rigid plastic like meat or biscuit trays, strawberry punnets, glass, rubber, paper, cardboard, tin cans or food waste.

Sustainability in our major supermarkets

Major supermarkets across Australia are doing their part to eliminate plastics where possible and encourage sustainable practices.

Woolworths has removed all single-use plastic bags and plastic straws from their stores. They’ve also introduced the use of recycled cardboard for fruit trays and recycled plastic for meat trays.

Coles has made a commitment to minimise food waste through compost and farm use. They’ve also introduced a range of energy-saving initiatives in store, in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse emissions. It’s great to see major supermarkets support and protect our environment.

By following these simple waste-reducing hacks, and shopping at stores that support and maintain a sustainable environment, together we can keep Brisbane green and maintain a healthier planet.