Make food scraps recycling work in your apartment building

To get your building involved in the service

1. Register your interest in joining the food scraps recycling service

   • If you live in an apartment, register your interest online. You can also call us on 02 9265 9333 or email [email protected].

     Apply online

2. Get strata committee approval

   • Discuss the food scraps recycling service with your strata committee. Download our meeting agenda template to use at your building’s next committee meeting.
   • Email a copy of strata minutes resolving to take part in the service to [email protected]. 

3. Nominate a building contact for a site assessment

   • Nominate a contact person who we can communicate with about the service in your building.
   • We’ll conduct a site assessment with the building contact, look at your building’s waste systems and bin storage area and answer any questions your building contact may have.

4. Apartments register online to take part

   • Once your building has joined the service, each apartment that wants to be involved must register online to take part and receive their free kitchen caddy pack. We’ll provide posters and postcards to communicate this.
   • In larger apartment buildings, we’ll conduct an info session so residents can ask questions and sign up before the service begins. We’ll discuss this with the building contact.
   • Kitchen caddy packs will be delivered to the building’s contact person to distribute to residents who have signed up. 

Once you’re part of the service, here’s how to make it work

1. Receive your bins and initial delivery of caddies

   We’ll deliver everything you need for the service to your building. In your first delivery you’ll receive: maroon lid food scraps bins, bin room signs and kitchen caddy packs for residents who’ve registered.

2. Set up the building

   • Place maroon lid bins in your bin storage areas.
   • Install the sign directly above the bins or as close as possible.
   • Distribute the kitchen caddy packs to residents.

3. Know what can and can’t be put in the food scraps bin

   • Familiarise yourself with what can and can’t go in the food scraps bin. Refer to our bin posters and stickers for additional guidance.
   • The basic rule of thumb is: if it’s food it can go in the food scraps bin.
   • Please don’t put plastic, degradable or biodegradable bags in the food scraps bin.

4. Get ready for collection

   • Your first collection will start the week after you receive your maroon lid bins.
   • Check your collection day and put your bin out the night before.
   • Bins should be put out for every collection no matter how much is in them.
   • Remember to give the bins a rinse each week. Find out more about how to care for your bins.

   If your bin isn’t collected or is damaged
   Please fill in an online form to arrange collection or bin repair.

5. Spread the word

   • Let all building staff know about the service.
   • Put up the service posters in common areas and share the reminder letter with residents. You can download these and other resources at the link below.
   • Have regular conversations with new and existing residents about the service.
   • Use any other building communication channels such as emails, text messages and Facebook groups to let residents know about it.

     Building resources

6. Help manage new sign-ups

   When new residents sign up, we’ll notify you and deliver their kitchen caddy packs the next Thursday for you to distribute.

7. Help residents with common questions

   Here’s how your residents can prepare for their food scraps collections, including where to buy compostable bags and how to care for caddies and bins. Here’s how residents’ food scraps get recycled.

8. Look for our ongoing check-ins

   • We’ll email or call you to see how the service is going.
   • We’ll send you some reminder postcards and posters for the building.
   • We can schedule a site visit if you require more support to increase participation in your building. Request a visit by emailing [email protected]. 

9. Tell residents what to do when they move out

   Food scraps kitchen caddies and bins are registered to properties, not residents. If a resident moves out, please ask them to leave their clean caddy, leftover liner bags and household information brochure on the kitchen bench, so the next person who moves in can easily start collecting and recycling their food scraps.

Contact us

If you have any questions call 02 9265 9333 or email [email protected].