Garden Organics
Let’s go green! In July 2023, Port Stephens moved towards a greener future with the introduction of a fortnightly garden organics waste collection service.
While developing our 2021 to 2031 Waste Management Strategy, we heard loud and clear from the community that as well as reaching better environmental outcomes through education, avoidance, reduction and recovery, they wanted us to investigate introducing a third bin and systems for processing green waste
Offering significant environmental benefits, the introduction of these green bins marked a move towards a greener future in Port Stephens by redirecting 25% of green waste away from landfill. After processing, garden organics waste is composted and used as soil nutrients.
Collection schedule
Download Council's App 'Port Stephens Waste' to see which day of the week your green bin will be collected. Download on Google Play for Android devices, and on the App Store for Apple devices.
What can and can't go in my green bin
| CAN go in my green bin | CAN'T go in my green bin |
|---|---|
| ✔ Pruning from shrubs or trees | ✘ Plastic, bio plastic or compostable bin liners |
| ✔ Lawn/grass clippings | ✘ Paper |
| ✔ Cut flowers | ✘ Food scraps of any kind |
| ✔ Weeds (excluding priority weeds) | ✘ Household items, building material and treated timber |
| ✔ Sticks, twigs and leaves no longer than 1.2 meters long | ✘ Bricks, rocks, soil and pot plans of any kind |
| ✔ Bark and branches no bigger than 10 cm in diameter | ✘ Priority weeds |
FAQs
Garden organics (green) bins are an important step to reducing our waste to landfill. Our previous waste processing system allowed us to compost our organic waste from our red bin however due to the changes to the regulations we’re unable to continue with this process and all our waste from our red bin is currently going to landfill.
Separating our garden waste into a dedicated green bin will allow this waste to be composted and used as soil nutrients which offers better environmental outcomes.
The delivery phase of the garden organics waste service will commence in June 2023. Delivery will be completed in zones and will happen automatically.
You don’t need to be home. Your new green bin will be delivered to your kerb or driveway and an information tag will be on the bin with more information.
Collection will commence from early July 2023. Your green bin will be collected fortnightly on the alternative week to your yellow bin.
No. There are no planned changes to collections days. Your green bin will be collected fortnightly on the alternate week to your yellow bin.
Council ask residents not to use their green garden organics (GO) bin until the service starts in early July 2023. If used earlier than serviceable, green garden organic bins can get too heavy and can’t be lifted by the truck.
25% of the waste collected in our red bins is actually garden organic waste and is currently going to landfill. Separating and recycling our garden organic waste offers a significant cost saving, allowing Council to provide this service to residents. Each year the waste service charge rises in line with CPI and increased costs for disposal.
All residential properties will be entitled to a green bin and will have access to one. The costs of collecting and processing the garden organic waste are included in the Waste Service Charge. While residents don’t have to use the service there is no cost reduction for opting out.
If you do not want a green bin please the complete Request to remove garden organics bin form or contact us on 02 4988 0255
Council has contacted strata managers of properties with more than 10 multi-unit dwellings to determine the number of bins required.
Can: Pruning from shrubs or trees, lawn/grass clippings, cut flowers, weeds, sticks, twigs and leaves, bark and branches no bigger than 10cm in diameter. Find out more on the Port Stephens’ Waste app available for download on Google Play for Android devices, and on the App Store for Apple devices.
Can’t: Plastic bags, plastic, bio plastic or compostable bin liners, paper, food scraps of any kind, household items, bricks, rocks or soil, pot plants or any kind of priority weeds, treated timber and building materials are not permitted in your green bin.
Food scraps can’t go in your bin as they require a higher level of processing and require different processing infrastructure, resulting in higher costs. Council will continue to work with NSW EPA to meet the Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Service implementation, by the 2030 mandate.
The organic waste collected from green bins will be delivered to the Veolia Resource Recovery Park in Raymond Terrace, where it will then be sent for processing.
After processing, the garden organics waste will be composted and used as soil nutrients.
25% of the waste collected in our red bins is actually green waste and is currently going to landfill. Separating and recycling our green waste offers a significant cost saving which will allow Council to provide this service to residents. Each year the waste service charge rises in line with CPI and increased costs for disposal.
Green waste drop off days will be reviewed as part of the roll out of the new garden organics service. If the dates of the scheduled green waste drop off days are not suitable for your needs you can still utilise one of your on call kerbside collections.
If you would like more information, or reminders of which bin you need to put out on which day download the Port Stephens’ Waste app available on Google Play for Android devices, and on the App Store for Apple devices.
Download the Port Stephens Council Waste App on Google Play for Android devices, and on the App Store for Apple devices.