Food waste recycling initiative

                    In South Australia, households send over 150,000 tonnes of food waste to landfill each year. If we could divert this food waste into kerbside green organics bins, this would (1) allow this valuable resource to be recycled into high-demand nutrient rich compost (2) save SA councils and communities up to $ 20m a year and (3) avoid harmful greenhouse gas emissions being released from organic material being landfilled.

The project would combine Woolworths trial of compostable barrier bags in supermarkets with LGASA/metropolitan councils providing free kitchen caddies in supermarkets. The parties would also partner to deliver a communications campaign to educate customers to recycle food waste. This project is being progressed through the Woolworths 360 "Good Move" initiative whereby Woolworths is looking for projects it can support to accelerate development of a circular economy in Australia. It is anticipated this would take place over a six week campaign period.

This project has been discontinued.

Project update

The LGA has been discussing the proposed project with the Woolworths Group for the last two years and has provided substantial information and advice to Woolworths on the state of food and green organics (FOGO) recovery in South Australia and the actions needed to improve recovery rates. These discussions continued through two rounds of piloting/testing compostable produce bags in stores. Woolworths will commence its rollout of compostable bags across South Australia in the coming weeks.

Due to COVID-19 and the associated challenges and disruptions in supply chains and logistics, Woolworths has needed to refocus its efforts back toward its core business of putting food on shelves. Therefore, Woolworths has advised the LGA that it no longer intends to proceed with the Food for the Earth project (see attached letter).

A number of councils made a financial contribution towards this project in early 2020 and these amounts will be reimbursed The LGA also received grant funding for this project from Green Industries SA (GISA) and we will explore with GISA whether there is an opportunity to redirect these funds towards projects with similar objectives.

The funding has been returned to the scheme.

Project snapshot

Project number: 2020.08

Project category: Environment and Natural Resources

Start date: 01 Jul 2020

Completion date: 31 Mar 2022

Recipient: Local Government Association of South Australia

Funds approved: $50,000.00

2020.08