After a survey in 2014 found 52 per cent of waste in kerbside bins was made up of food and garden organics, the City of Launceston investigated the viability of a green-bin programme.

After months of planning and the lodgment of a development application for a green composting facility at Mowbray, registrations for the organic bin program will open in August.

For a one-off fee of $65, a 240-litre food and garden organics bin and a kitchen caddy box will be delivered.

The City of Launceston hopes the Food and Garden Organics Kerbside Collection Service will reduce the amount of organic waste ending up in the city’s landfill.

The green bin will be collected on each alternate fortnight to recycling bins.

After registrations open in August, bin delivery will commence in September before trucks begin collecting green waste in October.

City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten expected the service would provide a benefit to the region’s environment.

“It’s going to have a big impact on our landfill, the cost of landfill, and it’s also going to provide a service to the ratepayers of Launceston,” he said.

It was expected the new scheme could divert up to 32 per cent of the city’s waste from landfill, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year.

The green-bin programme is not compulsory, with residents asked to opt-in to receive the kerbside collection service. 

Collected material will be composed at a purpose-built organics recycling facility at the Launceston Waste Centre, before the product is used as mulch and soil conditioner on the council’s parks and gardens.

Mulch will also be available for purchase. 

What to dump in the green organics bin: