What Can I Throw Into The Green Garden Waste Bin?

As spring comes, it’s time to clean up our gardens. Whether planting flowers, trimming shrubs or gathering fallen leaves, you’ll likely have a bunch of garden waste. You might use your green garden waste and stuff it all there when you need to get rid of it. 

However, throwing in whatever you’ve cleared from your garden is not always as simple. If you think it is, you would definitely be mistaken!

Garden waste includes organic materials that come from your garden or outdoor spaces. From 2018 to 2019, Australian households produced 12.4 million tonnes of waste, with more than half of it being organic materials, particularly 2.7 million tonnes of garden waste. 

In 2018, 1,345 kilotonnes of garden waste ended up in landfills, which can take up a lot of space. Poorly managed green waste can also cause fire risks in hot weather or attract pests. 

This guide will show you what can and cannot go into your green garden waste bin. This will help you keep your garden neat and manage your waste better. Ready to dig in? Let’s get started!

What CAN You Throw Into The Green Garden Waste Bin?

Should twigs and branches go in your green bin? What about food scraps or compostable kitchen waste? How about treated wood or large tree limbs? It's time to restate these questions and find out what you can toss in!

Here’s a list of items that go into your green garden waste bin:

• Fallen leaves and Twigs
• Grass Clippings from lawn mowing
• Grass Trimmings
• Garden Prunings (e.g., trimmed branches, bushes, and plants)
• Weeds (e.g., non-invasive weeds and garden plants)
• Flowers (e.g., dead flowers and plant cuttings)
• Small Wood Chips and Tree Stumps
• Lawn and Garden Debris (e.g., general garden waste and debris that can be composted)
• Food Scraps (e.g., fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and egg shells)
• Untreated Timber or Lumber
• Shredded Paper

While it may seem obvious to put only organic waste in the green bin, we sometimes overdo it and throw away anything we think is organic. However, there are rules to follow when disposing of this waste to avoid cross-contamination. 

Each council sets its own guidelines for green bins. Typically, these bins are for garden waste only, but some may accept food waste. To avoid confusion, check your council’s guidelines on acceptable items and any size limits or other restrictions. 

In NSW, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has established a general rule to ensure consistency across NSW households. The Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside collection service allows people to add food waste to the green garden waste bin, so it can be recycled into quality compost. Also, stay informed about FOGO bin restrictions, as they may change from time to time. 

What You SHOULDN’T Throw Into The Green Garden Waste Bin?

Around 3% of organic waste was turned away and sent to landfill because of contamination in NSW. That’s why understanding what to put in your green garden waste bin is as important as knowing what to leave out. Be cautious!

Here’s a list of items that you shouldn’t throw into your green garden waste bins:

• Soft Plastics (e.g., plastic bags and wraps)
• Treated Timber and Lumber
• Large Quantity of Soil
• Animal feces
• Large Tree Stumps
• Gravel and Rocks
• Polystyrene Material (e.g., meat trays and foam packaging)
• Plant Pots and garden materials
• Building waste (e.g., bricks, tiles, and other renovation items)
• Disposable diapers and sanitary items

While these items aren't suitable for your green garden waste bin and typically land in your red rubbish bin, there are plenty of ways to recycle and reuse some. This helps cut down on landfill waste and encourages sustainable practices. 

What Is The Importance Of Green Waste Recycling?

An average household in NSW produces 4.7 kg of garden waste each week. Rather than simply throwing it all away, you can transform it into a valuable compost. Composting is essential if you have a garden, and it’s a more sustainable choice than synthetic fertilisers and chemical pesticides. 

At home, you can compost using your garden's food scraps, dry leaves, and other organic materials. It’s a small but impactful step toward reducing waste and promoting a greener environment.

Tips In Taking Out Your Green Garden Waste Bins

Here are some helpful tips for disposing of waste in your green bins:

• Keep bins in the shade: Store your bins out of direct sunlight to avoid unpleasant odours.
• Maximise space: You can alternate food scraps with other green waste or layer them out to efficiently maximise your bin space.
• Maintain cleanliness: Clean your bins and shut the lids tightly to prevent pests.
• Avoid overloading: Stay within your local council's weight limits for green bins. Check their specific guidelines.

Call A Reliable Rubbish Removal Team

Bring in the pros if you find yourself swamped with green waste in your house and lack the time to handle it!

All Gone Rubbish Removal has a team of experts that quickly handles your green waste. We take care of household, construction, and commercial waste. Whatever waste you have— let us take care of it!

We provide convenient and safe waste disposal services at affordable rates. We also offer same-day junk removal in Sydney, Central Coast, and Newcastle. Call us at 0480 047 806 for a free quote!