WASTE RECYCLING

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about diverting domestic waste from landfill.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: South Australia's Strategic Plan sets out clear guidelines for the need to reduce our environmental footprint, including diverting waste from landfill and maximising recycling opportunities. Will the minister update the council on the latest initiatives to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:09): I am pleased to inform the council that a pilot program to recycle food waste has attracted considerable interest since it was announced last month. Local government plays a vital role in this state's recycling strategy, and since coming to office in 2002 we have enjoyed strong support from councils in getting various waste minimisation strategies off the ground. We have seen domestic recycling double over the past three years in the council areas where kerbside recycling has been adopted, the key benefit of which is diverting massive amounts of waste from South Australia's landfill sites.

This state's recycling record is a result of our dedication to the cause, and a catalyst for this remarkable achievement has been the state government's provision of about $4.8 million in financial incentives since 2004 for councils to upgrade their recycling systems. However, even with the current good recycling levels, about 40 per cent of what is left in the waste bin is, in fact, food scraps. So, by funding a practical way of recycling this waste, we can divert about 76 per cent of all domestic household waste from landfill.

Therefore, it was logical that, in looking for even greater efficiencies in the waste stream, we announced last month a trial program to help local government to remove food scraps from South Australia's household waste bins. Diverting this food waste to landfill creates valuable compost, because it is processed into a compost material that can then be sold to revitalise our gardens. We also know that compost helps to reduce evaporation of moisture from our gardens, rather than what it is currently doing, which is contributing to methane production and greenhouse gas emissions as it decomposes in our landfill sites.

Given the potential for food waste recycling, the need for this trial is clear. Even though we launched the plan only a few weeks ago, I think it is fantastic that 24 councils already have expressed interest, which shows that they well and truly mean it when it comes to being green. Coupled with other recent announcements, including the doubling of container deposits, it is clear that South Australia remains a national leader in recycling and our policy around that. As of today, this food recycling trial is underway, with a forum being run for interested councils, to provide information on the pilot.

As local government representatives were informed, the trial will run as an addition to kerbside collection services already offered, with food waste to be placed in a compostable bag in the garden organics bin. Councils will be expected to implement a comprehensive community information program to support the pilot and have policies in place to address the needs of residents if they need extra bin space. I look forward to working with councils on this exciting three-month pilot program, and I am sure that South Australia's households will embrace the scheme.