Key Tasks - sustainability.vic.gov.au/media... · Web viewEC Sustainable Pty Ltd ACN: 163 386 061 ABN: 87163 386 061. NSW. Head Office. Suites 701-703, 107 Walker Street, NORTH SYDNEY,

Controlled Document ID: Sustainability_Victoria_Kerbside_Waste_Audit_Report_2013_010813ii

Victorian Statewide Garbage Bin Audits:

Food, Household Chemicals and Unrecovered Recycling

August 2013

REPORT PRODUCED FOR:Sustainability Victoria

Victorian Statewide Garbage Bin Audits:

Food, Household Chemicals and Recyclables

2013

EC Sustainable Pty Ltd

ACN: 163 386 061 ABN: 87163 386 061

NSWHead Office

Suites 701-703, 107 Walker Street,

NORTH SYDNEY, NSW 2060.

Phone (02) 9922 3456, Fax (02) 9929 2252

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

VicState Office

Suite 28, 458 St Kilda Road

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA 3004.

EC Sustainable Reference: 2110-13

Project undertaken by EC Sustainable Environment Consultants for Sustainability Victoria

Acknowledgements

The waste departments of the participating Victorian councils for supplying sorting sites and collection vehicles.

Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in the UK for assisting with food background research and food categorisation processes

Metropolitan Waste Management Group (MWMG) for assisting with Get It Right on Bin Night background research and kerbside recycling material categorisation processes.

Victorian Statewide Garbage Bin Audits: Food, Household Chemicals and Recyclables © Sustainability Victoria 2014

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Sustainability Victoria Statewide Bin Audits Report 2013

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Table of Contents

Executive summary............................................................................................................11 Introduction................................................................................................................4

1.1 Overview............................................................................................................................41.2 Audit purpose and objectives............................................................................................41.3 Document structure...........................................................................................................4

2 Rationale.................................................................................................................... 52.1 Food waste........................................................................................................................52.2 Household chemicals.........................................................................................................62.3 Recyclables.......................................................................................................................7

3 Project method...........................................................................................................73.1 Guidelines..........................................................................................................................73.2 Audit structure....................................................................................................................83.3 Sampling............................................................................................................................8

3.3.1 General................................................................................................................................... 83.3.2 Size......................................................................................................................................... 93.3.3 Demographics......................................................................................................................... 9

3.4 Visual bin surveys..............................................................................................................93.5 Material collection............................................................................................................103.6 Sorting categories............................................................................................................103.7 Data verification and accuracy........................................................................................103.8 Extrapolation of Victoria data...........................................................................................10

4 Limitations................................................................................................................145 Results......................................................................................................................14

5.1 Generation rate overview................................................................................................145.1.1 Key categories by weight and volume..................................................................................145.1.2 Key categories by percentage..............................................................................................15

5.2 Food waste in the garbage stream..................................................................................175.2.1 Overview............................................................................................................................... 175.2.2 Food waste composition.......................................................................................................195.2.3 Avoidable food waste............................................................................................................225.2.4 Unavoidable food waste.......................................................................................................245.2.5 Possibly avoidable food waste..............................................................................................255.2.6 Food in unopened packets and containers...........................................................................255.2.7 Drinks................................................................................................................................... 30

5.3 Household chemicals in the garbage stream..................................................................315.3.1 Overview............................................................................................................................... 315.3.2 Household chemicals waste composition.............................................................................315.3.3 Item count............................................................................................................................. 38

5.4 Recyclables in the garbage stream.................................................................................425.4.1 Overview............................................................................................................................... 425.4.2 Detailed composition............................................................................................................45

6 Discussion...............................................................................................................497 Conclusions.............................................................................................................53Glossary..........................................................................................................................54Abbreviations.................................................................................................................55Appendix 1 – Audit Photos............................................................................................56Appendix 2 – Household chemicals by weight.................................................................61


List of Tables

Table 1 - Definitions of food (and drink) waste...............................................................................6

Table 2 - Sorting categories – food waste....................................................................................11

Table 3 - Sorting categories – household chemicals...................................................................12

Table 4 - Sorting categories – recyclables...................................................................................13

Table 5 - Garbage bin composition by weight per household, Victoria, 2013..............................15

Table 6 - Garbage bin composition by weight per person, Victoria, 2013....................................15

Table 7 - Garbage bin composition by volume per household, Victoria, 2013.............................15

Table 8 - Food waste composition by proportion, Victoria, 2013.................................................17

Table 9 - Food waste composition per household by volume, Victoria, 2013..............................18

Table 10 - Food waste composition by weight and percentage, Victoria, 2013.........................19

Table 11 - Food waste composition per household by volume, Victoria, 2013..........................21

Table 12 - Avoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013....................................................22

Table 13 - Unavoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013................................................24

Table 14 - Weight of food in unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013.............................................26

Table 15 - Percentage of food in unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013......................................26

Table 16 - Food removed from unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013.........................................27

Table 17 - Composition of unopened packaging that contained food, Victoria, 2013................29

Table 18 - Household chemicals waste by weight, Victoria, 2013..............................................31

Table 19 - Household chemicals waste per household by volume, Victoria...............................31

Table 20 - Household chemicals waste composition by weight, Victoria, 2013.........................34

Table 21 - Household chemicals waste composition by volume, Victoria, 2013........................37

Table 22 - Household chemicals waste item count, Victoria, 2013............................................41

Table 23 - Garbage composition by key categories per household, Victoria, 2013...................43

Table 24 - Garbage composition by key categories per person, Victoria, 2013.........................43

Table 25 - Garbage stream composition, Victoria, 2013............................................................47

Table 26 - Garbage stream comparison in 2012 and 2013 pre metro........................................47

Table 27 - Household chemicals by weight, Victoria, 2013........................................................61

List of Figures

Figure 1 - Definitions of food (and drink) waste...........................................................................6


Figure 2 - Waste and recycling audit process..............................................................................8

Figure 3 - Garbage bin composition by weight as percentage, Victoria 2013...........................16

Figure 4 - Garbage bin composition by weight as percentage, metropolitan 2013....................16

Figure 5 - Garbage bin composition by weight as percentage, non-metropolitan 2013............17

Figure 6 - Food generation kg/household/week, Victoria, 2013................................................18

Figure 7 - Food generation kg/household/week, metropolitan, 2013.........................................18

Figure 8 - Food generation kg/household/week, non-metropolitan, 2013.................................18

Figure 9 - Food waste composition by percentage, Victoria, 2011............................................20

Figure 10 - Avoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013....................................................23

Figure 11 - Unavoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013................................................24

Figure 12 - Unavoidable food (tea bags and skins).....................................................................25

Figure 13 - Possibly avoidable food.............................................................................................25

Figure 14 - Food in unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013............................................................28

Figure 15 - Composition of unopened packaging that contained food........................................29

Figure 16 - Containerised food....................................................................................................30

Figure 17 - Drink waste................................................................................................................30

Figure 18 - Four main household chemical wastes by weight, Victoria, 2013.............................32

Figure 19 - Four main household chemical wastes by weight, Metropolitan, 2013.....................33

Figure 20 - Four main household chemical wastes by weight, Non-metropolitan, 2013.............33

Figure 21 - Household chemicals waste composition by weight.................................................36

Figure 22 - Household chemicals waste composition by count...................................................40

Figure 23 - Garbage composition by key recyclable categories, Victoria, 2013..........................43

Figure 24 - Garbage composition by key recyclable categories, Metropolitan, 2013..................44

Figure 25 - Garbage composition by key recyclable categories, Non-metropolitan, 2013..........44

Figure 26 - Recyclables composition in the garbage stream, Victoria, 2013...............................45

Figure 27 - Recyclables composition in the garbage stream, Metropolitan, 2013.......................46

Figure 28 - Recyclables composition in the garbage stream, Non-metropolitan, 2013...............46

Figure 29 - Garbage stream composition, Victoria, 2013............................................................48

Photos of avoidable food.................................................................................................................56

Photos of unavoidable food.............................................................................................................57

Photos of possibly avoidable food...................................................................................................57

Photos of drinks..............................................................................................................................58

Photos of chemical household materials.........................................................................................59

Photos of other household materials...............................................................................................60


Executive summary

Sustainability Victoria engaged EC Sustainable to conduct audits of kerbside household waste and recycling

bins throughout Victoria. The audits were conducted to provide information about the amount of:

food waste in garbage bins.

household chemicals in garbage bins.

recyclables in garbage and recycling bins.

The audits were conducted with eight councils, which comprised four metropolitan and four non-

metropolitan councils. A sample of 200 households was audited for garbage bins for each council and 200

recycling bins in the four non-metropolitan areas. The report presents metropolitan, non-metropolitan and

statewide results.

This report focuses on the results of the food waste and household chemicals audited in garbage bins.

While there is a brief overview of recyclables in the garbage stream, the findings of these audits will be

combined with audits undertaken in 2012 in metropolitan Melbourne in a separate report.

For the purposes of this report “metropolitan” means Melbourne and “non-metropolitan” means the rest of

Victoria including urban areas.

Sustainability Victoria commissioned the audits to obtain baseline data and inform program development for

three projects:

Improving household recycling practices

Priority Product Intervention

Food waste avoidance.

The objectives of the audits were to measure target materials by weight and by volume:

per household

per resident

by proportion.

The key results are shown in the following table.

Sustainability Victoria Statewide Bin Audits Report 2013 1 | P a g e

Key results Key statistics Unit of measurement Result

Garbage bin

Mean weight (kg) per household per week, Victoria 9.70

Mean weight (kg) per person per week, Victoria 4.00

Mean volume (L) per household per week, Victoria 28.41

Food waste

Mean weight (kg) per household per week in the garbage bin, Victoria 3.43

Mean weight (kg) per person per week in the garbage bin, Victoria 1.42

Percentage (%) in the garbage bin, Victoria 35.6

Mean volume (L) per household per week in the garbage bin, Victoria 7.81

Food in unopened packets Percentage (%) in the garbage bin, Victoria 1.7

Household chemicals





Item count per household per year in the garbage bin, Victoria 32.5

Recyclables





Other Material





The audits identify key areas for waste avoidance and reduction in the garbage stream where initiatives

could be put in place or expanded.

Of the three categories audited, food waste accounted for a third of the garbage stream by weight, and of

this nearly two thirds was avoidable. The disposal of food that could have been eaten is a waste of money to

households and to councils and the costs, coupled with the environmental impacts in landfill, make a strong

case to target avoidable food with waste minimisation initiatives.


In the household chemicals category, the four main items collected were household (handheld) alkaline

batteries, car batteries, paint and pharmaceuticals. Household alkaline batteries were the most numerous

single item. The amount of household chemicals was higher in non-metropolitan areas and could be worth

greater targeting in future, however it is difficult to attribute reasons with any certainty due to variables such

as availability of collection services.

Recyclables were a tenth of the garbage stream consisting mostly of compliant materials: paper and

cardboard, plastics and glass. These findings will help in future planning to increase material for recycling.

Current programs such as GIROBN should continue to be monitored, and future research, additional audits

and waste minimisation initiatives should be carried out in an effort to reduce waste in the garbage stream.

This could be done through social research, resource recovery initiatives, kerbside collection programs,

generation rates, education and community awareness.


1 Introduction1.1 Overview

Sustainability Victoria engaged EC Sustainable to conduct audits of kerbside household waste and recycling

bins throughout Victoria. The audits were conducted to provide information about the amount of:

food waste in garbage bins.

household chemicals in garbage bins.

recyclables in garbage and recycling bins.

The audits were conducted with eight councils, which comprised four metropolitan and four non-

metropolitan councils. A sample of 200 households was audited for garbage bins for each council and 200

recycling bins in the four non-metropolitan areas. The report presents metropolitan, non-metropolitan and

statewide results.

This report focuses on the results of the food waste and household chemicals audited in garbage bins.

While there is a brief overview of recyclables in the garbage stream, the findings of these audits will be

combined with audits undertaken in metropolitan Melbourne in a separate report specifically for the “Get it

Right on Bin Night Program”.

For the purposes of this report “metropolitan” means Melbourne and “non-metropolitan” means the rest of

Victoria including urban areas.

1.2 Audit purpose and objectives

Sustainability Victoria commissioned the audits to obtain baseline data and inform program development for

three projects:

Improving household recycling practices – Get it Right on Bin Night

Priority Product Intervention

Food waste avoidance.

The objectives of the audits were to measure target materials by weight and by volume:

per household

per resident

by proportion.

1.3 Document structure

This report provides:

project method used to obtain the data (section 3)

limitations of the study (section 4)


results of the audit (section 5)

discussion (section 6)

conclusions (section 7)

audit photos and household chemicals data (appendices 1 and 2).

2 Rationale 2.1 Food waste

The Victorian Government’s waste and resource recovery policy Getting Full Value identifies food waste as

a “key area of focus”. The policy states that, because of the environmental risk and financial cost,

households will be provided with support to reduce this waste. In market research undertaken for

Sustainability Victoria, Victorians estimated the value of food they bought but didn’t eat was about $40 a

week – or $2,000 a year (Food Waste Avoidance Study, Woolcott Research, 2010).

A large number of domestic waste audits have been conducted in Australia that measure food waste in total

and results commonly show that food comprises about 40% by weight. However few audits look at the

composition of food waste in detail. And where food has been sorted, the number of categories has been

limited, and they relate more to home composting and source-separated food waste collection. No statewide

audits which look at the composition of food waste appear to have been conducted in Victoria in detail.

In the United Kingdom, extensive research into food waste has been undertaken by the Waste and

Resources Action Programme (WRAP) including a detailed investigation to quantify the amount and

composition of domestic food waste. The results were published in 2009 in a report titled Household Food

and Drink Waste in the UK.

The report presents food waste in the categories shown in Figure 1 and Table 1.

The audit method used in this study is based on the food categories used by WRAP, and enables potential

comparison of Victoria’s data with UK. However this study addresses only food waste in the domestic

garbage bin. WRAP considers all means of food waste disposal including disposal to sewer.


Figure 1 - Definitions of food (and drink) waste

Table 1 - Definitions of food (and drink) waste

Waste fraction Description

Corresponding fractions in this

report

Kitchen waste

Food or drink disposed of, including associated inedible material, such as bones from meat, egg shells, and inedible parts of fruit and vegetables, but excludes man-made packaging associated with food or drink, e.g. glass bottles, polymer film, aluminium cans.

All (avoidable,possibly avoidableand unavoidable)

Edible waste

Food and drink disposed of, excluding inedible material and packaging. It should be noted that this food and drink may not actually be edible at the point of disposal (e.g. it may have gone mouldy). However, it is composed of the fraction of food and drink that was, at some point, edible.

Avoidable and possibly avoidable

Avoidable waste

Food and drink, excluding inedible material and packaging. Further excluded are foods that some people eat and others do not (e.g. bread crusts), or that can be eaten when a food is prepared in one way but not in another (e.g. potato skins).

Avoidable

Source for Figure 1 and Table 1: Household Food and Drink Waste in the UK, WRAP, 2009, p15.

2.2 Household chemicals

Sustainability Victoria administers a household chemical collection service known as “Detox your Home”

which is supported by drop-off sites for lower risk products. This is a free service for householders to

dispose of potentially dangerous household chemical products safely and easily without harm to human

health or the environment. Victorian householders can dispose of hazardous household chemical products

through a mobile collection service or use a permanent drop-off site to dispose of paint, household batteries

and CFLs. The program is delivered in partnership with local government and is funded by the Victorian

landfill levy.


Kitchen waste

Edible waste

Avoidable

Possibly avoidable

Unavoidable

“Household chemicals” in this study refers to all materials collected by Sustainability Victoria through the

Detox your Home program in categories including paint, batteries and CFLs.

In addition the study includes a category for “other” waste disposed of through the domestic garbage stream

such as e-waste and medical items.

No detailed audits of the composition of household chemicals in the waste stream have been conducted in

Victoria until now. The audits reported on here will be used to benchmark the generation of household

chemicals by Victorian households.

2.3 Recyclables

Sustainability Victoria is managing an education program and campaign to divert more recyclable material

from household garbage bins to recycling bins and reduce the level of contamination in the recycling bin.

Called Get it Right on Bin Night (GIROBN), the program was launched in 2012 initially in Melbourne and

expanded to regional Victoria in 2013.

The program aims to:

improve kerbside recycling rates

reduce the size of the residual waste stream

reduce the amount of unwanted materials in recycling bins, in particular plastic bags

increase householder commitment to recycling through improved confidence in the recycling

system.

The initial campaign received funding from the Australian Packaging Covenant, all Melbourne councils,

Sustainability Victoria and the Metropolitan Waste Management Group which has also been a program

partner.

Prior to its Melbourne launch, a detailed audit was conducted by EC Sustainable to establish a baseline and

again after the campaign had started, to monitor results.

A similar method was used to evaluate the performance in non-metropolitan areas. Initial results are

provided here however final results will be published in a dedicated GIROBN report.

3 Project method3.1 Guidelines

The audit was conducted in accordance with Sustainability Victoria’s Guidelines for auditing kerbside waste

in Victoria – leading practice for measuring kerbside waste, recycling and green organics . In addition, an

audit method designed by EC Sustainable was used for monitoring the GIROBN campaign.


3.2 Audit structure

Figure 2 provides the structure of the audits.

Figure 2 - Waste and recycling audit process

3.3 Sampling3.3.1 General

Eight councils were selected by Sustainability Victoria to represent inner and outer Melbourne and urban

and non-urban Victoria. Councils were selected to represent a random sample from a broad cross section of

the Victorian community and included a mix of different bin collection systems. Sustainability Victoria

selected:

metropolitan - two inner/middle and two outer city areas in Melbourne


Non-m

etropolitan Councils O

nly

3. Kerbside Bin Survey – Visual Check

5a. Collect Surveyed Waste Bins

1. Select Sampling Area

4. Sticker Surveyed Bins

2. Select Households within Sampling Area

10. Dispose of/Recycle Sorted Materials

5b. Collect Surveyed Recycling Bins

6. Set-up Sorting Site Area to Receive Samples

7a. Tip Collected Waste Bins

7b. Tip Collected Recycling Bins

8a. Sort Delivered Waste Bin Contents

8b. Sort Delivered Recycling Bins

Contents

9a. Weigh and Data Enter Results

9b. Weigh and Data Enter Results

non-metropolitan - one large city, two medium-sized non-metropolitan towns and one small town.

The samples selected were all residential households serviced by local government kerbside collection

services.

Councils supplied collection trucks and an area where materials could be sorted, and took care of the

materials after sorting for recovery or landfill.

3.3.2 Size

A sample of 200 households was selected from each council and the audits were conducted in two batches

of 100 on consecutive days with the exception of one council that only services recycling once per week

(which meant 200 households were completed on one day), and one council whose collection truck

experienced a mechanical failure (which resulted in the second audit of 100 bins being conducted on two

separate days). The total audit sample of garbage bins was 15.8 tonnes (15,765.96 kg) from eight councils.

3.3.3 Demographics

Based on the most recent census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2011), the number of

people per household in the study area are:

2.5 in the metropolitan area audited

2.4 in the non-metropolitan area audited

2.43 statewide (an extrapolation of the number of households audited in each of the metropolitan

and non-metropolitan areas).

Based on the most recent census data (ABS, 2011), the numbers of households in the study areas are:

1,572,171 in the metropolitan area

619,261 in the non-metropolitan area

2,191,432 statewide.

Sustainability Victoria requested that the audits focus on areas more likely to have families and that samples

from multi-unit developments be limited.

3.4 Visual bin surveys

Prior to the audits, the auditors surveyed the applicable bins for the target number of households. A bin

survey starting point was agreed with each council. The visual bin survey looked at:

the proportion of bin used (assessed in 10% increments)

the number of bins on the kerbside for each stream

contamination in recycling bins.

A sticker was placed on the surveyed bins so they could be identified by the collection truck driver.


3.5 Material collection

Collection was undertaken using the aggregated truck method system and an auditor accompanied the

collection truck to ensure that all samples collected were those with stickers.

3.6 Sorting categories

The materials were sorted and classified for analysis using the categories shown in the following tables:

food (table 2)

household chemicals (table 3)

recyclables (table 4).

Containerised food and drinks were split into the food component and packaging component as a sub-sort.

Commonly, audits will classify containerised food as “other”. However, these audits measured containerised

food as a category, and containers and food were then weighed separately. Food was then added to

appropriate food categories and recyclable containers added to appropriate recyclables categories.

It is noted that in the fourth category “other” the materials included garden organics, nappies, textiles and

building materials.

3.7 Data verification and accuracy

Several quality control actions were taken including third party checking of data and weighing aggregated

samples prior to sub-sorting to check audit accuracy. In addition some random bins were re-sorted by an audit

supervisor to check the sorting quality.

Rounding has been applied to this data; therefore the data represented is a calculated approximation of the raw

data and its exact mathematical value. The rounding of figures may cause some variances with totals.

3.8 Extrapolation of Victoria data

Statewide data is extrapolated from the metropolitan and non-metropolitan area results using the number of

households in each area and statewide 1.

1 ABS (2011) census data, Melbourne Statistical Division Greater Melbourne 1,572,171 households and non-metropolitan area

619,261 households.


Table 2 - Sorting categories – food waste

Category Components of category

Avoidable food

Fresh salad leaves Unprocessed salads which include lettuce and leafy greens

Fresh fruit Unprocessed fresh fruit considered perishable and is not preserved by canning, freezing or drying

Fresh vegetables

Unprocessed fresh vegetables considered perishable and is not preserved by canning, freezing or drying. Includes some items that are seeded, but considered as vegetables such as cucumber, capsicum, tomato

Bakery Includes bread, pastry, cracker biscuits, and cookies

Meals (home cooked/pre-prepared) Home cooked and pre-prepared meals

Meat and fish (uncooked) Uncooked meat including poultry (chicken/ turkey/ duck), beef, lamb, pork and fish

Dairy/eggs Cheese, cream, yogurt, egg (excluding egg shells), and milk

Processed vegetables/saladVegetables and vegetable based salads which have been pre-prepared fresh, canned, frozen or dried. This includes: canned corn, baked beans, beetroot, frozen peas, beans and vegetable mixes

Condiments/sauces/herbs/spices

Includes ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, vegemite, peanut butter, honey, jam, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, dried herbs, powdered spices, chutney, salsa and marinades and other similar items

Staple foods Includes pasta, breakfast cereal, rice, oats and noodles

Cake/desserts Includes cheesecake, buns, donuts, jelly, ice cream, pastries, cupcakes, cake, scones, custard, pudding, fruit pies and other desserts

Confectionery/snacks All sweet and savoury snacks including nuts, crisps, lollies, candy, chocolate, corn chips, granola bars and rice cake

Processed fruit Fruits which have been pre-prepared fresh, canned, frozen or dried or processed such as toffee apples

Food in unopened packets / containers All food in unopened packets / containers (excluding meat)

Unavoidable food

Skins (bananas etc) Skins mainly from fruit such as bananas, oranges, lemons, limes, pineapples, mangoes, melons, kiwi fruit.

Bones/pips/corn cobs/egg shells Includes chicken bones, t-bones, ribs, fish bones, corn cobs, egg shells, fruit and vegetable pips, seeds and cores, crab and prawn shells

Tea bags/coffee grounds All tea bags and coffee grounds

Possibly avoidable food

Peelings/stems/outer leavesPeelings mainly from vegetables including potato and carrot peelings, broccoli stems, cabbage leaves, spring onion/shallot tops and bean and sprout ends

Drinks

DrinksIncludes coffee and tea, fruit juice flavoured milk beverages, alcoholic beverages such as beer, lager, cider, spirits and wines and soft drinks and water

Table 3 - Sorting categories – household chemicals

Category


Chemicals

Acids/alkalis Glues (water based/solvents)

Aerosol cans Herbicides/weed killers

Batteries (household) Insect spray/ pesticides

Cleaners (ammonia based) Nail polish/removers

Compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) Oven cleaners

Cooking oil Paint

Detergents/disinfectants/drain cleaners Paint stripper/thinner/turps

Fertilisers Pharmaceuticals

Fire extinguishers Pool chemicals

Floor-care products Rat poison

Fluorescent tubes (non-compact) Solvents

Fluorescent starters Wax

Fuels - petrol/diesel/kerosene/other Wood preservatives/finishes

Gas cylinders (<9kg BBQ/leisure) Other chemical-based or toxic products

Anti-freeze Coolant

Brake fluid Headlights

Brake pads Motor oil

Car batteries Oil filters

Car body filler Transmission fluid

Car wax Other vehicle related

Other

Cables/chargers Mobile phones

Computers Printer cartridges

Computer accessories - small including mouse/keyboards

TVs/monitors

Other electrical/ e-waste

Incandescent light globes Needles, epi pens and medical

Asbestos Dust

Other


Table 4 - Sorting categories – recyclables

Sorting category Components Recyclable

Compliant paper and cardboard

Newspaper, magazines/ brochures, miscellaneous (paper) packaging, corrugated cardboard, cardboard / package board, disposable paper product, print/ writing/ office paper

Compliant LPB containers Liquid paperboard containers

Compliant glass Glass beverage containers, glass non beverage containers / other packaging glass

Compliant plasticsPET (1), HDPE (2) and PVC (3) beverage and non-beverage containers, LDPE (4) packaging, PP (5) packaging including plant pots, PS (6) packaging, other plastics (7), PP plant pots

Compliant steel Steel beverage containers, steel packaging (excluding beverage containers)

Compliant aluminium Aluminium beverage containers, aluminium packaging (excluding beverage containers), aluminium non-packaging (foils)

Potentially recyclable

Other steel Steel other non-packaging (100% ferrous items that are not cans / tins / or packaging materials, any other steel).

Other aluminium Aluminium non-packaging (100% aluminium items that are not cans/tins/packaging materials, any other aluminium).

Plastic - other rigid mouldings ^^

PP (5) non-packaging (appliance parts, crates and boxes, toys, housewares/ kitchenware, furniture, mouldings, irrigation fittings).

OrganicsFood / kitchen (loose) Non-containerised kitchen food products.

Containerised food Containerised kitchen food products (food in unopened packets). #

Garden / vegetation Loose garden vegetation with dimensions no longer than 0.3m long, 0.3m wide and 0.3m depth.

Other paper Compostable paper not suitable for recycling based on typical MRF standards (before being put in the bin), soiled paper and used tissues.

Other putrescible Animal excrement mixed compostable items, kitty litter.Other materialOther material Everything else including absorbent hygiene waste.^ Other aluminium was split between foils (kerbside recyclable) and other materials (not kerbside recyclable). The foils are applied to compliant aluminium in the results.^^ Plastic rigid mouldings (i.e. all rigid plastic that was not a recyclable container was split between plant pots (kerbside recyclable) and other rigid plastic materials that are not recyclable containers (not kerbside recyclable). The plant pots are applied to compliant plastics.# This category is predominantly organic material for kerbside educational purposes. However, the material should be excluded if considered mixed waste processing facilities because of inaccessibility of the material to resource recovery.


4 Limitations

The following limitations of the study are noted.

The study only included food and drink placed into garbage bins for disposal. It did not include other

means of disposal such as:

o sewer

o home composting and animal feed.

The sampling included only four out of 30 metropolitan councils and four out of 49 non-metropolitan

councils.

The calculated volume does not account for the potentially different compaction of materials.

The confidence intervals (margin of error) of the data are not calculated. This is because the

aggregated nature of sampling makes analysing the variation between samples impractical.

The compositional audit data was not collected at an individual household level. This inhibits the

ability to understand individual household behaviour and determine outlying results.

Households were not audited in both garbage collection weeks in a fortnightly cycle. There may be

differences in the results by collection week.

The audits do not account for season, or the impact of holidays and festivals on domestic food

waste generation. Seasonal weather variations affect audit results so any comparison with other

reports should consider the time of year audits were undertaken.

5 Results5.1 Generation rate overview5.1.1 Key categories by weight and volume

Statewide, the mean garbage bin yield was 9.7 kilograms per household per week (kg/hh/wk) overall, with a

lower yield in the metropolitan area (9.5 kg/hh/wk) compared to the non-metropolitan area (10.2 kg/hh/wk).

Tables 5 and 6 provide the mean garbage bin generation rate per household and per person.

Of the 9.7 kg/hh/wk, the approximate breakdown was 3.4 kg food, 1 kg recyclables and 0.2 kg household

chemicals. Other, 5 kg, consisted mainly of garden organics, textiles and nappies.

The yield of food waste per household was higher in metropolitan than non-metropolitan areas (although the

percentage of food was higher in the metropolitan area because of the lower mean bin weight) while the

amounts of household chemicals and recyclables were higher in the non-metropolitan area.

Table 7 provides the mean garbage bin generation rate per person by volume. The mean garbage bin

volume was 28.4 litres per household per week overall, with a similar volume in metropolitan and non-

metropolitan areas. Food at 8.2 L/hh/wk and household chemicals at 1.5 L/hh/wk had a higher volume in

non-metropolitan areas compared to metropolitan areas which were 7.66 L/hh/wk and 0.60 L/hh/wk


respectively. Recyclables had a higher volume in the metropolitan (4.8 L/hh/wk) compared to non-

metropolitan areas (3.7 L/hh/wk).

Table 5 - Garbage bin composition by weight per household, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight (kg/household/week)

Metro Non-metro VictoriaFood 3.70 2.76 3.43Household chemicals 0.13 0.34 0.19Recyclables 0.92* 1.37 1.05Other material 4.74 5.74 5.02Total^ 9.50 10.21 9.70

* Based on the 2012 Get It Right on Bin Night audits^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Table 6 - Garbage bin composition by weight per person, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight (kg/person/week)

Metro Non-metro VictoriaFood 1.54 1.11 1.42Household chemicals 0.06 0.14 0.08Recyclables 0.38 0.55 0.43Other material 1.98 2.30 2.07Total^ 3.96 4.10 4.00

^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Table 7 - Garbage bin composition by volume per household, Victoria, 2013

CategoryVolume (L/household/week)

Metro Non-metro VictoriaFood 7.66 8.20 7.81Household chemicals 0.60 1.51 0.86Recyclables 4.77 3.68 4.46Other material 15.22 15.43 15.28Total^ 28.25 28.81 28.41


5.1.2 Key categories by percentage

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the percentage of the key materials for each area of Victoria, metropolitan and

non-metropolitan respectively.

Statewide, the data show that 35.6% of the kerbside garbage bin was food, including food that had been in

unopened packets and containers.

Figure 5 shows that in the non-metropolitan area, recyclable material made up 13.4% (1.37 kg/hh/wk) of the

garbage bin (including unopened containers that had contained food). This compares to 9.7% (0.92


kg/hh/wk) which was the result for the metropolitan area from audits conducted in 2012, (It is noted that

there was no difference in the weight of the garbage bin in the metropolitan area between 2012 and 2013.

In the non-metropolitan area, household chemicals make up 3.3% (0.34 kg/hh/wk) of the garbage bin

(Figure 5). This compares to 1.5% (0.13 kg/hh/wk) in the metropolitan area, showing that the non-

metropolitan area has a higher level of household chemicals.

Figure 3 - Garbage bin composition by weight as percentage, Victoria 2013

Figure 4 - Garbage bin composition by weight as percentage, metropolitan 2013


Figure 5 - Garbage bin composition by weight as percentage, non-metropolitan 2013

5.2 Food waste in the garbage stream 5.2.1 Overview

Statewide, the weight of food waste in the garbage bin was 3.4 kg/hh/wk which was 35.6% of the garbage

bin (see Section 5.1). The data shows that 64.4% of this was avoidable, with a slightly higher rate in

metropolitan councils (65.5%) compared to non-metropolitan councils (60.5%). Table 8 provides the

percentage of food waste by summary categories. The figure increases to 75.3% when possibly avoidable

food is added.

Statewide, the data show that 23.9% of food waste was unavoidable, 10.9% was possibly avoidable and

0.9% was drinks. It is noted that most drinks are probably disposed of to sewer.

Table 9 provides the volume of food waste per person by summary categories. Statewide it shows that

avoidable food waste has the highest volume (4.67 L//hh/wk), followed by unavoidable food waste (2.1

L/hh/wk), possibly avoidable food waste (0.93 L/hh/wk) and then drinks (0.1 L/hh/wk).

Table 8 - Food waste composition by proportion, Victoria, 2013

Category PercentageMetro Non-metro Victoria

Avoidable 65.5 60.5 64.4Unavoidable 23.9 23.8 23.9Possibly Avoidable 10.0 13.7 10.9Drinks 0.5 2.1 0.9Total^ 100.0 100.0 100.0 ^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals


Table 9 - Food waste composition per household by volume, Victoria, 2013

Category Volume (L/household/wk)Metro Non-metro Victoria

Avoidable 4.56 4.95 4.67Unavoidable 2.12 2.08 2.11Possibly Avoidable 0.90 1.01 0.93Drinks 0.08 0.16 0.10Total^ 7.66 8.20 7.81^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Figures 6-8 provide the weight and percentage of food and drink waste generated for each summary

category in Victoria, metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas respectively.

Figure 6 - Food generation kg/household/week, Victoria, 2013

Figure 7 - Food generation kg/household/week, metropolitan, 2013

Figure 8 - Food generation kg/household/week, non-metropolitan, 2013


5.2.2 Food waste composition

Table 10 provides the detailed food waste composition by weight and percentage, while Figure 9 illustrates

this as a bar graph. The data show a high proportion of the following by weight in order from highest to

lowest:

skins (unavoidable)

bakery (avoidable)

meal leftovers (avoidable)

peelings (possibly avoidable)

Dairy/ eggs (avoidable)

fresh vegetables (avoidable)

fresh fruit (avoidable).

Food that could have been eaten was 64.4%, statewide.

Table 10 - Food waste composition by weight and percentage, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight

(kg/household/week) Percentage

Metro Non-metro Victoria Metro Non-

metro Victoria

Avoidable

Fresh salad leaves 0.05 0.06 0.05 1.4 2.1 1.6

Fresh fruit 0.20 0.20 0.20 5.3 7.2 5.7

Fresh vegetables 0.27 0.27 0.27 7.4 10.0 8.0

Bakery 0.64 0.36 0.56 17.3 12.9 16.3

Meals (home cooked/pre-prepared) 0.43 0.47 0.44 11.7 16.9 12.9

Meat/fish (uncooked) 0.13 0.09 0.12 3.5 3.1 3.4

Dairy/eggs 0.40 0.05 0.30 10.9 1.8 8.8

Processed veg/salad 0.05 0.01 0.04 1.3 0.5 1.1

Condiments/sauces/herbs/spices 0.05 0.01 0.04 1.3 0.4 1.1

Staple foods 0.12 0.08 0.11 3.3 2.7 3.2

Cake/dessert 0.04 0.04 0.04 1.2 1.6 1.3

Confectionery/snacks 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.7 1.0 0.8

Processed fruit 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.3 0.3 0.3

Sub-total 2.42 1.67 2.21 65.5 60.5 64.4

Unavoidable

Skins (bananas, etc) 0.62 0.42 0.57 16.8 15.3 16.5

Bones/pips/corn cobs/egg shells 0.18 0.16 0.17 4.8 5.9 5.1

Tea bags/coffee grounds 0.08 0.07 0.08 2.3 2.6 2.3

Sub-total 0.89 0.66 0.82 23.9 23.8 23.9Possibly avoidable Peelings/stems/outer leaves 0.37 0.38 0.37 10.0 13.7 10.9

Drinks Drinks 0.02 0.06 0.03 0.5 2.1 0.9

Total^ 3.70 2.76 3.43 100.0 100.0 100.0



Figure 9 - Food waste composition by percentage, Victoria, 2013


Table 11 - Food waste composition per household by volume, Victoria, 2013

CategoryVolume

(L/household/week) Percentage

Metro Non-metro Victoria Metro Non-

metro Victoria

Avoidable

Fresh salad leaves 0.31 0.31 0.31 4.0 3.8 3.9

Fresh fruit 0.44 0.43 0.44 5.8 5.3 5.6

Fresh vegetables 0.72 0.66 0.70 9.4 8.1 9.0

Bakery 1.05 1.44 1.16 13.7 17.5 14.8

Meals (home cooked/pre-prepared) 0.80 1.08 0.88 10.4 13.2 11.2

Meat/fish (uncooked) 0.37 0.22 0.33 4.8 2.7 4.2

Dairy/eggs 0.13 0.14 0.13 1.7 1.8 1.7

Processed veg/salad 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.9 0.9 0.9

Condiments/sauces/herbs/spices 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.8 0.7 0.7

Staple foods 0.29 0.23 0.27 3.7 2.7 3.4

Cake/dessert 0.15 0.13 0.15 2.0 1.6 1.9

Confectionery/snacks 0.14 0.12 0.13 1.8 1.5 1.7

Processed fruit 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.6 0.6 0.6

Sub-total 4.56 4.95 4.67 59.5 60.4 59.8

Unavoidable

Skins (bananas, etc) 1.41 1.29 1.37 18.4 15.7 17.6

Bones/pips/corn cobs/egg shells 0.45 0.54 0.48 5.9 6.6 6.1

Tea bags/coffee grounds 0.26 0.25 0.25 3.3 3.0 3.2

Sub-total 2.12 2.08 2.11 27.7 25.3 27.0Possibly avoidable Peelings/stems/outer leaves 0.90 1.01 0.93 11.8 12.4 12.0

Drinks Drinks 0.08 0.16 0.10 1.0 1.9 1.3

Total^ 7.66 8.20 7.81 100.0 100.0 100.0



5.2.3 Avoidable food waste

Table 12 provides the avoidable food waste composition by percentage while Figure 10 illustrates this as a

bar graph. Statewide the data show that approximately a quarter of avoidable foods are bakery at 25.3%, a

fifth was meals (home cooked/pre-prepared) at 20.0%, approximately a seventh was dairy/ eggs at 13.7%

and an eighth was fresh vegetables at 12.4%. Non-metropolitan councils had a higher rate of meals (home

cooked/ pre-prepared) at 28.0% compared to metropolitan councils at 17.9%. Metropolitan councils had a

higher rate of dairy/eggs at 16.6% compared to non-metropolitan councils at 3.0%.

Table 12 - Avoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013

Category Percentage within avoidable food

Metro Non-metro VictoriaFresh salad leaves 2.1 3.5 2.4Fresh fruit 8.1 11.9 8.9Fresh vegetables 11.3 16.4 12.4Bakery 26.3 21.3 25.3Meals (home cooked/pre-prepared) 17.9 28.0 20.0Meat/fish (uncooked) 5.3 5.1 5.3Dairy/eggs 16.6 3.0 13.7Processed veg/salad 2.0 0.8 1.7Condiments/sauces/herbs/spices 2.0 0.7 1.7Staple foods 5.1 4.5 4.9Cake/dessert 1.8 2.6 2.0Confectionery/snacks 1.0 1.7 1.2Processed fruit 0.5 0.5 0.5Total^ 100.0 100.0 100.0



Figure 10 - Avoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013


5.2.4 Unavoidable food waste

Table 13 provides the unavoidable food waste composition by percentage and Figure 11 illustrates the

percentages as a bar graph. The data show that most of the unavoidable food was skins at 69.0%, with

approximately a fifth being bones/pips/corn cobs/ egg shells at 21.2% and a tenth being tea bags/coffee

grounds at 9.8%.

Skins and cores were sorted as one category, however, visually the auditors determined the materials to be

90% skins such as bananas, oranges, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, and 10% cores (apples, capsicums,

and pineapples).

Table 13 - Unavoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013

Category Percentage

Metro Non-metro VictoriaSkins 70.3 64.6 69.0Bones, pips, corn cobs, egg shells 20.1 24.7 21.2Tea bags and coffee grounds 9.5 10.7 9.8Total^ 100.0 100.0 100.0


Figure 11 - Unavoidable food waste composition, Victoria, 2013


Figure 12 - Unavoidable food (tea bags and skins)

5.2.5 Possibly avoidable food waste

Possibly avoidable food waste was sorted as one category, however, the auditors made some visual notes

and identified most material as vegetable: carrot peelings, potato peelings, cabbage and broccoli stems.

There were smaller amounts of spring onion/shallot tops and ends, bean ends, spring onion ends plus a

large number of other smaller fractions, mostly vegetable.

Figure 13 - Possibly avoidable food

5.2.6 Food in unopened packets and containers

Statewide, the weight of food in unopened packets and containers was 0.13 kg/hh/wk and food and

packaging together was 0.16 kg/hh/wk (see Table 14). The food component accounted for 80% of the food

in unopened packets category with the remaining 20% being packaging.


The yield of food in unopened packets and containers was higher in the metropolitan area (0.14 kg/hh/wk)

compared to the non-metropolitan area (0.09 kg/hh/wk).

Table 14 - Weight of food in unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013

Category Weight (kg/household/week) Percentage

Metro Non-metro Victoria Metro Non-metro VictoriaFood, packets and containers^ 0.18 0.12 0.16 100.0 100.0 100.0

Food only 0.14 0.09 0.13 79.8 79.8 79.8

Packets 0.04 0.02 0.03 20.2 20.2 20.2


Statewide, the food in unopened packets and containers was 3.8% of the total food and 1.7% of the total

garbage stream (see Table 15).

Table 15 - Percentage of food in unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013


Food in unopened packaging within total food 3.9 3.4 3.8

Food in unopened packaging within the garbage stream 1.9 1.1 1.7

All the contents of unopened packets and containers was avoidable food, including tea bags and ground

coffee (see Figure 14 and Table 16).

The data show that most food removed from the food in packets was condiments/sauces/herbs/spices

(38.6%), processed vegetables and salad (30.8%) and staple foods (18.0%), staple foods being mostly

bread, rice and pasta.


Table 16 - Food removed from unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013

Category Percentage

Fresh salad leaves 0.7Fresh fruit 0.0Fresh vegetables 0.6Bakery 0.0Meals (home cooked/pre-prepared) 0.0Meat/fish (uncooked) 1.6Dairy/eggs 0.0Processed vegetables/salad 30.8Condiments/sauces/herbs/spices 38.6Staple foods 18.0Cake/dessert 3.6Confectionery/snacks 4.5Processed fruit 0.7Tea bags/ground coffee 1.0

Total^ 100.0 ^ Rounding of figures may cause totals not to sum to 100%


Figure 14 - Food in unopened packaging, Victoria, 2013


Statewide the data show that the main types of packaging/ containers that contained food were compliant

plastics (40.7%) and compliant glass (39.1%) with a small amount of all other materials (see Figure 15 and

Table 17). The total weight of packaging was 0.03 kg/hh/wk.

Table 17 - Composition of unopened packaging that contained food, Victoria, 2013

Category Percentage

Metro Non-metro Victoria1. Compliant Paper and Cardboard 1.3 3.0 1.8

2. Compliant LPB Containers 1.5 4.9 2.4

3. Compliant Glass 39.1 39.2 39.1

4. Compliant Plastics 42.5 36.1 40.7

5. Compliant Steel 4.9 7.2 5.5

6. Compliant Aluminium 2.0 1.7 1.9

7. Other Steel 0.5 0.0 0.3

16. Other 8.3 8.0 8.2

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 ^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Figure 15 - Composition of unopened packaging that contained food


Figure 16 - Containerised food

5.2.7 Drinks

Drinks were sorted as one category which included fruit juice and alcohol. However, the auditors separated

drinks into some additional sub categories. The results show that:

62% was soft drinks and water (visually estimated to be approximately evenly distributed)

24% was fruit juice

8% was alcoholic drinks

6% was milk-based drinks (i.e. not pure milk).

Milk was sorted into the dairy/ eggs category, iced coffee was sorted to milk-based drinks and iced tea to

soft drinks. The liquid was emptied from containers for weighing. Figure 17 shows examples.

Figure 17 - Drink waste


5.3 Household chemicals in the garbage stream5.3.1 Overview

Statewide, the data show that the weight of household chemicals waste was 0.19 kg/hh/wk, which was 2.0%

of the garbage bin (see Section 5.1). Of this, 29.0% was chemicals and 71.0% of the material was other,

which includes a variety of items such as e-waste (see Table 18). Chemicals collected in the household

chemicals collection program make up approximately 0.6% of total garbage. The data show that the yield of

chemicals was higher in non-metropolitan areas (34.6%) compared to metropolitan areas (23.4%).

Statewide, the data show that by volume of household chemicals, 15.1% was chemicals and 84.9% of the

material was other (see Table 19).

Table 18 - Household chemicals waste by weight, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight (kg/household/week) Percentage

Metro Non-metro Victoria Metro Non-metro Victoria

Chemicals 0.03 0.12 0.06 23.4 34.6 29.0

Other 0.10 0.22 0.14 76.6 65.4 71.0

Total^ 0.13 0.34 0.19 100.0 100.0 100.0^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Table 19 - Household chemicals waste per household by volume, Victoria

CategoryVolume (L/household/week) Percentage

Metro Non-metro Victoria Metro Non-metro Victoria

Chemicals 0.09 0.23 0.13 15.2 14.9 15.1

Other 0.51 1.28 0.73 84.8 85.1 84.9

Total^ 0.60 1.51 0.86 100.0 100.0 100.0^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

5.3.2 Household chemicals waste composition

Statewide, the four main chemicals were household (handheld) alkaline batteries at 22.5%, car batteries at

19.6%, paint at 14.2% and pharmaceuticals at 10.7% with all other chemicals making up the remaining

33.1% (see Figures 18-20). The non-metropolitan area has the same four main chemicals as statewide.

However, the metropolitan area differs by one main category with batteries (car) being replaced by aerosol

cans (10.1%).

Table 20 and Figure 21 provide the detailed composition of household chemicals by weight. The data show

that there was a wide distribution of materials disposed of in the garbage stream, although most were very

small. The key materials based on the audit results were:

toiletries/ cosmetic items which were 6.6% of the material statewide (12.6g/hh/wk), with less in the

non-metropolitan councils.


household (handheld) alkaline batteries which were 6.5%% of the material statewide (12.5 g/hh/wk),

with less in the non-metropolitan councils.

car batteries which were 5.7% of the material statewide (10.9 g/hh/wk), with none in the

metropolitan councils.

paint which was 4.1% of the material statewide (7.9 g/hh/wk), with less in the metropolitan councils.

As the audit focused on household chemicals collected in the Detox Your Home service, items such as e-

waste were categorised as “other”. It is noted however that e-waste was 53.7% of the household chemical

material statewide and approximately 1.1% of total garbage. However a more useful analysis than weight is

the count of each item which is provided in the following section.

Table 21 provides a detailed composition of household chemicals by volume with the key chemicals being:

household (handheld) alkaline batteries which were 2.7% of material statewide(23 mL/hh/wk), with

less in non-metropolitan councils.

pharmaceuticals which were 2.2% of the material statewide (19 mL/hh/wk), with less in non-

metropolitan councils.

car batteries which were 1.64% of the material statewide (14 mL/hh/wk), with none in metropolitan

councils.

paint which was 1.5% of the material statewide (12 mL/hh/wk), with less in metropolitan councils.

Statewide, e-waste was 72.1% of the volume of household chemicals and approximately 2.2% of the

garbage stream.

Figure 18 - Four main household chemical wastes by weight, Victoria, 2013


Figure 19 - Four main household chemical wastes by weight, Metropolitan, 2013

Figure 20 - Four main household chemical wastes by weight, Non-metropolitan, 2013


Table 20 - Household chemicals waste composition by weight, Victoria, 2013


Chemicals

(Detox Your

Home)

Acids/alkalis 0.0 0.8 0.4Aerosol cans 2.4 0.3 1.4Anti-freeze 0.0 0.0 0.0Batteries (household akaline) 6.6 6.4 6.5Batteries (car) 0.0 11.4 5.7Brake fluid 0.0 0.0 0.0Car body filler 0.0 0.0 0.0Cleaners (ammonia based) 0.3 0.0 0.1Compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) and starters 0.9 1.0 0.9

Cooking oil 0.3 1.7 1.0Coolant 0.0 0.0 0.0Detergents/ disinfectants/ drain cleaners 1.2 0.5 0.9Fertiliser 0.1 0.1 0.1Fire extinguishers 0.0 0.0 0.0Floor-care products and waxes 0.2 0.7 0.4Fluorescent tubes 0.2 0.9 0.6Fuels (petrol/diesel/kerosene/other) 0.0 0.7 0.4Gas cylinders (up to 9kg BBQ/ leisure) 0.1 0.0 0.1Glues (water based/solvents) 1.0 0.1 0.5Herbicides/ weed killers 0.0 0.1 0.1Insect spray/ pesticides 0.0 0.0 0.0Motor oil 0.0 0.8 0.4Nail polish/ remover 0.9 0.0 0.5Oven cleaners 0.0 0.0 0.0Paint (paint and tin) 3.7 4.6 4.1Paint stripper/thinner/turps 1.5 0.0 0.7Pharmaceuticals 4.1 2.1 3.1Pool chemicals 0.0 0.0 0.0Rat poison 0.0 0.1 0.0Solvents 0.0 0.3 0.2Transmission fluid 0.0 1.9 1.0

Wood preservatives/ finishes (oils/ varnish) 0.0 0.0 0.0

Sub-total^ 23.4 34.6 29.0


Table 20 (continued) Household chemicals waste composition by weight, Victoria, 2013


Other

Brake pads 0.0 4.7 2.3Cables/ chargers 9.0 5.1 7.1Computers 0.0 0.0 0.0Computer accessories (mouse/ keyboard etc) 0.8 2.9 1.8

Dust 0.2 4.2 2.2Hazardous mixed fines 0.0 0.9 0.5Headlights 0.0 0.9 0.5Incandescent globes 1.3 0.2 0.8Mobile phones 0.3 0.4 0.4Needles/ medical 0.1 0.1 0.1Oil filters 0.0 1.5 0.8Printer cartridges 0.4 0.3 0.3Sunscreen 0.0 0.5 0.2Toiletries/ cosmetics 10.8 2.3 6.6TVs/monitors 0.0 0.0 0.0Other e-waste 49.4 37.2 43.3Other (unknown) 4.3 4.1 4.2Sub-total^ 76.6 65.4 71.0Total^ 100.0 100.0 100.0

* Some categories listed in Table 3 are not shown in the table above, due to having zero results. These include asbestos and car wax.^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals


Figure 21 - Household chemicals waste composition by weight


Table 21 - Household chemicals waste composition by volume, Victoria, 2013


Chemicals

(Detox Your

Home)

Acids/alkalis 0.00 0.08 0.04Aerosol cans 1.96 0.33 1.16Anti-freeze 0.00 0.00 0.00Batteries (household akaline) 3.10 2.24 2.68Batteries (car) 0.00 3.32 1.64Brake fluid 0.00 0.00 0.00Car body filler 0.00 0.00 0.00Cleaners (ammonia based) 0.21 0.00 0.10Compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) and starters 0.83 0.58 0.71

Cooking oil 0.21 0.66 0.43Coolant 0.00 0.00 0.00Detergents/ disinfectants/ drain cleaners 1.03 0.41 0.73Fertiliser 0.21 0.08 0.15Fire extinguishers 0.00 0.00 0.00Floor-care products and waxes 0.41 0.58 0.50Fluorescent tubes 0.41 0.66 0.54Fuels (petrol/diesel/kerosene/other) 0.00 1.00 0.49Gas cylinders (up to 9kg BBQ/ leisure) 0.21 0.00 0.10Glues (water based/solvents) 0.62 0.17 0.40Herbicides/ weed killers 0.00 0.08 0.04Insect spray/ pesticides 0.21 0.00 0.10Motor oil 0.00 0.83 0.41Nail polish/ remover 0.41 0.17 0.29Oven cleaners 0.00 0.00 0.00Paint (paint and tin) 1.24 1.66 1.45Paint stripper/thinner/turps 1.03 0.00 0.52Pharmaceuticals 3.10 1.33 2.22Pool chemicals 0.00 0.00 0.00Rat poison 0.00 0.08 0.04Solvents 0.00 0.17 0.08Transmission fluid 0.00 0.50 0.25Wood preservatives/ finishes (oils/ varnish) 0.00 0.00 0.00

Sub-total^ 15.2 14.9 15.1

Other


Dust 0.00 3.82 1.89Hazardous mixed fines 0.00 0.83 0.41Headlights 0.00 0.17 0.08Incandescent globes 2.07 0.58 1.33Mobile phones 0.83 0.41 0.62Needles/ medical 0.21 0.17 0.19


Table 21 (continued) Household chemicals waste composition by volume, Victoria, 2013


Other

Oil filters 0.00 0.25 0.12Printer cartridges 1.65 0.83 1.25Sunscreen 0.00 0.17 0.08Toiletries/ cosmetics 7.86 1.83 4.87TVs/monitors 0.00 0.00 0.00Other e-waste 59.77 54.11 56.97Other (unknown) 2.90 7.39 5.12Sub-total^ 84.8 85.1 84.9Total^ 100.0 100.0 100.0

^ Rounding of figures may cause totals not to sum to 100%.

5.3.3 Item count

Figure 22 provides the proportion of household chemical items by count. Statewide, 55% are household

chemicals and 45% are other. Statewide, the data shows that the key household chemicals are batteries

(household handheld alkaline) at 64.4%, pharmaceuticals at 15.0% and compact fluorescent light globes at

5.4%.

Table 22 provides the count of each type of item audited plus an extrapolation of the number of each item

generated by households anually. An annual extrapolation is provided instead of a weekly extrapolation

because of the low number of items disposed.

Overall of the total 1,820 household chemical items recorded:

854 items were audited in the metropolitan area which equates to 55 items/hh/yr.

966 items were audited in the non-metropolitan area which equates to 63 items/hh/yr.

The results extrapolate to statewide average of 59 items/hh/yr.

The most numerous single item was batteries (household):

291 batteries were audited in the metropolitan area which equates to 19 batteries/hh/yr.

353 batteries were audited in the non-metropolitan area which equates to 23 batteries/hh/yr.

The results extrapolate to statewide average of 21 batteries/hh/yr.

There was also a substantial amount of e-waste items:

273 e-waste items were audited in the metropolitan area which equates to nearly 18 items/hh/yr.

254 e-waste items were audited in the non-metropolitan area which equates to nearly17 items/hh/yr.

The results extrapolate to statewide average of 17 e-waste items/hh/yr.


Paint and CFLs are materials of particular interest to Sustainability Victoria in the Detox Your Home

program, and the numbers are shown below.

Paint:

3 paint tins were audited in the metropolitan area which equates to 0.2 paint tins/hh/yr.

12 paint tins were audited in the non-metropolitan area which equates to 0.8 paint tins/hh/yr.

The results extrapolate to statewide average of 0.5 paint tins/hh/yr.

CFLs:

21 CFLs were audited in the metropolitan area which equates to 1.4 CFLs /hh/yr.

33 CFLs items were audited in the non-metropolitan area which equates to 2.1 CFLs /hh/yr.

The results extrapolate to statewide average of 1.8 CFLs /hh/yr.

There were three car batteries audited in the non-metropolitan area, but none in the metropolitan area.


Figure 22 - Household chemicals waste composition by count


Table 22 - Household chemicals waste item count, Victoria, 2013

Category Total items Items/household/yearMetro Non-metro Metro Non-metro Victoria

Chemicals

(Detox Your

Home)

Acids/alkalis 0 1 0.0 0.1 0.0Aerosol cans 17 4 1.1 0.3 0.7Anti-freeze 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Batteries (household akaline) 291 353 18.9 22.9 20.9Batteries (car) 0 3 0.0 0.2 0.1Brake fluid 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Car body filler 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Cleaners (ammonia based) 4 0 0.3 0.0 0.1Compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) 21 33 1.4 2.1 1.8Cooking oil 1 10 0.1 0.7 0.4Coolant 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Detergents/ disinfectants/ drain cleaners 5 5 0.3 0.3 0.3Fertiliser 2 1 0.1 0.1 0.1Fire extinguishers 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Floor-care products and waxes 3 13 0.2 0.8 0.5Fluorescent tubes 6 12 0.4 0.8 0.6Fuels (petrol/diesel/kerosene/other) 0 2 0.0 0.1 0.1Gas cylinders (up to 9kg BBQ/ leisure) 1 0 0.1 0.0 0.0Glues (water based/solvents) 3 2 0.2 0.1 0.2Herbicides/ weed killers 0 2 0.0 0.1 0.1Insect spray/ pesticides 1 0 0.1 0.0 0.0Motor oil 0 2 0.0 0.1 0.1Nail polish/ remover 22 5 1.4 0.3 0.9Oven cleaners 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Paint 3 12 0.2 0.8 0.5Paint stripper/thinner/turps 3 0 0.2 0.0 0.1Pharmaceuticals 67 83 4.4 5.4 4.9Pool chemicals 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Rat poison 0 2 0.0 0.1 0.1Solvents 0 3 0.0 0.2 0.1Transmission fluid 0 2 0.0 0.1 0.1

Wood preservatives/ finishes (oils/ varnish)

0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Sub-total 450 550 29.3 35.8 32.5

Other

Brake pads 0 4 0.0 0.3 0.1Cables/ chargers 88 76 5.7 4.9 5.3Computers 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Computer accessories (mouse/ keyboard etc) 4 16 0.3 1.0 0.7Dust 1 11 0.1 0.7 0.4Hazardous mixed fines 0 50 0.0 3.3 1.6Headlights 0 2 0.0 0.1 0.1Incandescent globes 35 26 2.3 1.7 2.0Mobile phones 5 9 0.3 0.6 0.5Needles/ medical 2 12 0.1 0.8 0.5


Table 22 (continued) Household chemicals waste item count, Victoria, 2013

Category Items Audited Items/household/yearMetro Non-metro Metro Non-metro Victoria

Other

Oil filters 0 3 0.0 0.2 0.1Printer cartridges 16 21 1.0 1.4 1.2Sunscreen 0 5 0.0 0.3 0.2Toiletries/ cosmetics 60 48 3.9 3.1 3.5TVs/monitors 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0Other e-waste 125 104 8.1 6.8 7.4Other (unknown) 68 29 4.4 1.9 3.2Sub-total 404 416 26.3 27.0 26.7Total^ 854 966 55.2 62.8 59.2


5.4 Recyclables in the garbage stream5.4.1 Overview

Statewide, the weight of kerbside recyclables in the garbage bin was 1.05 kg/hh/wk which was 10.8% of the

garbage stream (see Table 23). There was a higher amount (4%) of recyclables in the non-metropolitan

areas compared to the metropolitan (see Figures 24-25).

The “potentially recyclable” material was higher in the non-metropolitan area compared to the metropolitan

area with a mean yield of 0.19 kg/hh/wk or 2.0%. Potentially recyclable material includes “other rigid plastic

mouldings” that are not containers and “other steel”. In some metropolitan councils, these are acceptable at

a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and this may explain the lower yield in metropolitan bins.

The level of organics was approximately 7% higher in the metropolitan area compared to the non-

metropolitan area with a mean yield of 5.34kg/hh/wk or 55.0%.

Table 23 provides an overview of the recyclables in the garbage stream (i.e. unrecovered) using the non-

metropolitan audits from this audit and the metropolitan audits from GIROBN in 2012. The results are

provided by weight per household and weight per resident.

Figures 23- 25 illustrate the percentage of the key materials for each area of Victoria, metropolitan and non-

metropolitan respectively.


Table 23 - Garbage composition by key categories per household, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight (kg/household/week)

Metro Non-metro VictoriaRecyclables 0.92 * 1.37 1.05Potentially recyclable 0.16 0.27 0.19Organics 5.44 5.10 5.34Other waste 3.00 3.46 3.13Total^ 9.53 * 10.21 9.72

* Based on the Get It Right on Bin Night 2012 pre-campaign audit ^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Table 24 - Garbage composition by key categories per person, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight (kg/person/week)

Metro Non-metro VictoriaRecyclables 0.39 0.55 0.43Potentially recyclable 0.07 0.11 0.08Organics 2.27 2.05 2.20Other waste 1.25 1.39 1.29Total^ 3.97 4.10 4.01


Figure 23 - Garbage composition by key recyclable categories, Victoria, 2013


Figure 24 - Garbage composition by key recyclable categories, Metropolitan, 2013

Figure 25 - Garbage composition by key recyclable categories, Non-metropolitan, 2013


5.4.2 Detailed composition

Figures 26, 27 and 28 illustrate the percentage of the key recyclables for each area of Victoria, metropolitan

and non-metropolitan respectively.

Statewide, the data show that most of the recyclable material was:

o compliant paper and cardboard which was 0.43kg/hh/wk and 4.4% of the garbage stream

(or 40.8% of the recyclable material)

o compliant plastics which was 0.24kg/hh/wk and 2.5% of the garbage stream (or 23.1% of

the recyclable material)

o compliant glass which was 0.21kg/hh/wk and 2.2% of the garbage stream (or 20.4% of the

recyclable material)

Figure 26 - Recyclables composition in the garbage stream, Victoria, 2013


Figure 27 - Recyclables composition in the garbage stream, Metropolitan, 2013

Figure 28 - Recyclables composition in the garbage stream, Non-metropolitan, 2013


Table 25 and Figure 29 provide the detailed composition of the garbage stream by weight and proportion.

Table 25 - Garbage stream composition, Victoria, 2013

CategoryWeight

(kg/household/week) PercentageMetro * Non-metro Victoria Metro * Non-metro Victoria

Recyclables

Compliant paper and cardboard 0.37 0.58 0.43 3.9 5.7 4.4

Compliant LPB containers 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.2 0.3 0.3Compliant glass 0.18 0.29 0.21 1.9 2.8 2.2Compliant plastics 0.23 0.28 0.24 2.4 2.7 2.5Compliant steel 0.09 0.14 0.10 0.9 1.3 1.0Compliant aluminium 0.01 0.05 0.02 0.1 0.5 0.2Other aluminium 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.2 0.0 0.2Sub-total 0.92 1.37 1.05 9.7 13.4 10.8

Potentially recyclable

Other steel 0.11 0.10 0.10 1.1 1.0 1.1Other rigid plastic mouldings 0.06 0.18 0.09 0.6 1.7 0.9Sub-total 0.17 0.28 0.21 1.7 2.7 2.0

Organics

Food/kitchen (loose) 3.31 2.67 3.13 34.7 26.1 32.2Food in unopened packets 0.27 0.12 0.23 2.9 1.1 2.3Garden/vegetation 0.98 1.63 1.16 10.3 16.0 12.0Other paper 0.54 0.25 0.46 5.7 2.5 4.7Other putrescible 0.34 0.43 0.37 3.6 4.2 3.8Sub-total 5.44 5.08 5.34 57.1 49.9 55.0

Other waste All other waste 3.00 3.46 3.13 31.5 33.9 32.2

Total^ 9.53 10.21 9.72 100.0 100.0 100.0

* Based on the Get It Right On Bin Night 2012 pre-campaign data^ Rounding of figures may cause some variance with totals

Table 26 provides a comparison of some of the comparable garbage stream categories sorted in the

metropolitan area in the 2012 and 2013 audits. The total mean bin weight is very similar which suggests a

high level of accuracy in the results.

Table 26 - Garbage stream comparison in 2012 and 2013 pre metro

CategoryWeight

(kg/household/week) PercentageMetro 2012 Metro 2013 Metro 2012 Metro 2013

Food/kitchen (loose) 3.31 3.56 34.7 37.5Food in unopened packets 0.27 0.18 2.9 1.9Other waste 3.00 4.74 31.5 49.9Total garbage bin 9.53 9.50 100.0 100.0


Figure 29 - Garbage stream composition, Victoria, 2013


6 Discussion

The project provides baseline data on food waste, household chemicals and recyclables in household

garbage bins from an audit of 200 households in four metropolitan council areas and four non-metropolitan

council areas, i.e. 1600 households in total. This is the first such detailed audit undertaken by Sustainability

Victoria.

Statewide, the mean garbage bin weight was 9.7 kilograms per household per week overall, with a lower

yield in the metropolitan area (9.5 kg/hh/wk) compared to the non-metropolitan area (10.2 kg/hh/wk).

Results per household per week of the three streams audited were:

food waste – 3.4 kg/hh/wk (35.6%) recyclables – 1.1 kg (10.8%) household chemicals – 0.2 kg (2%).

Any material not the subject of this audit was categorised as Other, which included green organics, nappies

and textiles.

Comparing metropolitan areas to non-metropolitan, the yield of food waste per household was higher in

metropolitan than non-metropolitan areas while the amounts of household chemicals and recyclables were

higher in non-metropolitan areas.

FoodFood waste was divided into three categories: avoidable, possibly avoidable and unavoidable, and each of

these had a number of sub categories, based on those used by WRAP in the UK.

At 64.4%, avoidable food waste – the food that could have been eaten – was the most significant

component of food waste in the garbage bin and the most wasted items were bakery (16%), leftover meals

(13%), dairy/eggs (9%) and fresh vegetables (8%). Metropolitan councils had much higher amounts in the

bakery and dairy/ egg waste categories than non-metropolitan councils, while the reverse occurred with

leftover meals and fresh vegetables.

The disposal of food that could have been eaten is a waste of money to households and to councils which

spend considerable money on collection and disposal and if it is disposed of to landfill, food waste also

produces the greenhouse gas methane – all making a strong case to target avoidable food with waste

minimisation initiatives.

Research could be undertaken to quantify the overall value of avoidable food disposed of by households

and consideration could be given to conducting further audits to sub-sort categories such as the dairy/eggs

category because of the varying economic value of milk, eggs, yoghurt, cheese, etc.


During the audits, reasons were ascribed to the avoidable food waste. While the reasons were not covered

in the report as they were assumptions, they nonetheless provide a general feel.

Nearly three quarters of food was deemed not to have been used in time either because it appeared to have

passed a date label or had gone rotten, mouldy or looked as though it would have tasted or smelt bad. The

other main reason for avoidable food waste was meal leftovers – thought to be about a fifth – showing that

too much was cooked, prepared or served. The remainder consisted of food in unopened packets or

containers (which could also have passed its use by date).

However, as it is not possible to determine with certainty the reasons for disposal of edible food based on

bin audits alone, additional research based on WRAP’s definitions as above would be useful.

A further point about food in unopened packets or containers is that packaging was mainly compliant

plastics and compliant glass, so not only was the food wasted, but the containers were not recovered for

recycling. Food in unopened packaging comprised 1.7% of the garbage stream, with a higher yield of food in

metropolitan councils (0.14 kg/hh/wk) compared to non-metropolitan councils (0.09 kg/hh/wk).

Unavoidable food waste was approximately a quarter of the food waste being thrown out by weight (23.9%)

and over two thirds of this was skins. It could be useful to conduct future audits to sub sort the skins

category into various types because of the large component of the overall audited material (which included

skins of several fruit and cores).

Unavoidable food should be targeted with resource recovery initiatives, such as home composting, animal

feed and kerbside collection programs as they come on stream for food, either dedicated or combined with

garden organics. Kerbside collections programs can include providing households with kitchen caddies

and/or biobags and a bin service for food waste.

Clarification of the process for handling unused tea bags and coffee grounds in the audit method should be

considered, as currently all used and unused tea bags and coffee grounds that are not in sealed unopened

packets are classified as unavoidable. Therefore, unused products that are not in unopened packets could

be miss-classified as unavoidable. As experienced by WRAP (2009, p79), this can be important if further

research is conducted, particularly for social research and food diaries.

Possibly avoidable food waste was about 11% of the food being thrown out statewide. Again, additional

research could be useful to understand the reasons for disposal, for example whether it is habit, recipe

requirement, etc. Future audits could also include sub-sorting the types of possibly avoidable food (potato,

carrot peelings, broccoli stems, cabbage leaves, etc).

To enable a fuller picture of food waste generation and its disposal, further research could also be useful to

quantify other methods that are being used by households to manage food waste namely disposal to

sewer, compost bin or source-separated food waste collection or for use as food for pets.


Household ChemicalsStatewide, household chemicals made up the smallest proportion of the garbage stream at 2%. Chemicals

collected in the Detox Your Home service made up 29% of the household chemicals. There was a higher

yield of household chemicals in non-metropolitan councils (0.34 kg/hh/wk) compared to metropolitan

councils (0.13 kg/hh/wk).

The four main items collected were household alkaline batteries (22.5%), car batteries (19.6%), paint

(14.2%) and pharmaceuticals (10.7%). Household alkaline batteries were the most numerous single item

audited with a statewide average of 21 batteries per household per year. There were only three car batteries

audited in the non-metropolitan areas and none in the metropolitan areas.

While the amount of household chemicals was higher in non-metropolitan areas, it is difficult to attribute

reasons with any certainty due to the number of variables. However it is possible that there could be a

higher use in non-metropolitan areas because of the nature of activities (e.g. farming), more limited

availability of Detox Your Home locations and fewer hard waste collection services.

Statewide, e-waste was also a significant component of household chemicals at 53.7% with an average of

17 items per household per year. As individual materials vary substantially by weight the respective hazard

should not only be determined by weight. For example, a larger e-waste item like a keyboard may be

heavier but not be more hazardous than a lighter item such as an AA battery or a Compact Fluorescent

Light (CFL) due to a more inert proportion of content. While resource recovery targets aim to minimise the

weight of material disposed of, consideration should also be given to the disposal of household chemicals

by number.

Further research could be undertaken to consider why the amounts of household chemicals were higher in

non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas. This may include research on the availability of Detox Your Home

program locations, the impact of clean-up hard waste services in each area, and factors that affect the

generation rate. Additional samples would be needed for greater accuracy given the small size of this

waste stream compared to food waste and recyclables.

RecyclablesStatewide, recyclables made up nearly 11% of the garbage stream and the main items were compliant

paper and cardboard (4.4%), compliant plastics (2.5%) and compliant glass (2.2%).

There was a higher yield in non-metropolitan councils (1.37 kg/hh/wk) compared to metropolitan councils

(0.92 kg/hh/wk).


Potentially recyclable material – including other rigid plastic mouldings that are not containers and other

metal – was also higher in the non-metropolitan area (0.27 kg/hh/wk) compared to the metropolitan area

(0.16 kg/hh/wk). In some metropolitan councils, these are acceptable at a MRF and this may explain the

lower yield in metropolitan areas.

The impact of the government’s GIROBN program in regional Victoria will enable monitoring of

performance. Further results of audits of recyclables in both garbage and recycling bins for no-metropolitan

councils will be covered in detail in a separate report for the pre- and post-GIROBN campaign in regional

Victoria.

Any trials or programs developed in waste minimisation and resource recovery in the garbage stream

should continue to be monitored. Additional audits should be conducted on the garbage stream at an

individual household level to determine the differences in individual household performance and analyse the

results based on households of various sizes and socio-economic variables. Audits should also be

conducted in different seasons to understand seasonal factors and the impact of holidays and festivals on

domestic food waste generation.


7 Conclusions The audits identify key areas for waste avoidance and reduction in the garbage stream where initiatives

could be put in place or expanded.

Of the three categories audited, food waste accounted for a third of the garbage stream, and avoidable and

possibly avoidable food waste was over 70%. The disposal of food that could have been eaten is a waste of

money to households and to councils and costs, coupled with the environmental impacts in landfill, make a

strong case to target avoidable food with waste minimisation initiatives.

In the household chemicals category, the four main items collected were household alkaline batteries, car

batteries, paint and pharmaceuticals. Household alkaline batteries were the most numerous single item.

The amount of household chemicals was higher in non-metropolitan areas and could be worth greater

targeting in future, however it is difficult to attribute reasons with any certainty due to variables such as

availability of collection services.

Recyclables were a tenth of the garbage stream consisting mostly of compliant materials: paper and

cardboard, plastics and glass. These findings will help in future planning to increase material for recycling.

Current programs such as GIROBN should continue to be monitored, and future research, additional audits

and waste minimisation initiatives should be carried out in an effort to reduce waste in the garbage stream.

This could be done through social research, resource recovery initiatives, kerbside collection programs,

generation rates, education and community awareness.


Glossary

Avoidable food – food and drink thrown away because it is no longer wanted or has been allowed to go

past its best. Most of avoidable food is composed of material that was, at some point prior to disposal,

edible, even though a proportion is not edible at the time of disposal due to deterioration (e.g. gone mouldy).

In contrast to ‘possibly avoidable’ (see below), the category of ‘avoidable’ includes foods or parts of food

that are considered edible by most people. (WRAP, 2009, p23)

Household chemicals – materials accepted in the Detox Your Home program and all other materials that

contain chemicals that are hazardous to the environment as shown in Table 3.

Possibly avoidable food – food and drink that some people eat and others do not (e.g. bread crusts), or

that can be eaten when prepared in one way but not in another (e.g. potato skins). As with ‘avoidable’

waste, ‘possibly avoidable’ waste is composed of material that was, at some point prior to disposal, edible.

(WRAP, 2009, p23).

Recyclables – material that is permitted to be placed into recycling bins (generally yellow lid bins) for

recycling. A list of recyclables as accepted by most MRFs is assumed based on the materials agreed that

were generally recyclable in Victoria in the GIROBN audits of 2012 as shown in Table 4.

Unavoidable food – waste arising from food and drink preparation that is not, and has not been, edible

under normal circumstances. This includes pineapple skin, apple cores, meat bones, tea bags, and coffee

grounds.. (WRAP, 2009, p23)


Abbreviations

APC Australian Packaging Covenant

AHW Absorbent Hygiene Waste

AWD Australian Waste Database

AWT Alternative Waste Treatment (or Technology)

AS Australian Standard

CFL Compact Fluorescent Light (globes)

EPS Expanded Polystyrene

GIROBN Get It Right on Bin Night

HDPE High Density Polyethylene

HH Household

KG Kilogram

LDPE or LLDPE Low Density Polyethylene

LGA Local Government Authority

Metro Metropolitan

MGB Mobile Garbage Bin

MRF Materials Recovery Facility

MSW Municipal Solid Waste

MUD Multiple Unit Dwelling

MWMG Metropolitan Waste Management Group

OH&S Occupational Health and Safety

OHSMS Occupational Health and Safety Management System

PET Polyethylene Terephthalate

PP Polypropylene

PPE Personal Protective Equipment

PS Polystyrene

PVC Polyvinyl Chloride

SV Sustainability Victoria

SUD Single Unit (Occupancy) Dwelling

WEEE Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment

WK Week

WRAP Waste and Resources Action Programme


Appendix 1 – Audit Photos

Figure 30 provides some relevant audit pictures of the project methods. Figures 30 to 36 provide photos for

the streams sorted.

Photos of avoidable food

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6. 1. Vegetables 2.Bakery products 3.Meat 4.Salad 5.Fruit 6.Sweets & lollies


Photos of unavoidable food

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

1. Banana peels, onion skins, squashed lemons 2. Egg shell, corn cobs & bones 3.Tea bags. 4. Corn silage

5 -6. Skins.

Photos of possibly avoidable food

1. 2.


3. 4.

5. 6.

1. Pumpkin peelings 2. Outer leaves and stems 3. Peelings. 4. Outer leaves 5. Broccoli stems etc. 6. Apple

peelings etc.

Photos of drinks

1. 2.

3. 4.


Photos of chemical household materials

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8. 1-8. chemicals such as glass cleaner (1), soaps (2), household alkaline batteries (3), aerosol cans (4), paint

(5), car batteries (6), motor oil (7) and nail polish (8).


Photos of other household materials

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6. 1-6. E-waste e.g. toaster and radio (1 and 4), electric blanket (2), power cords and cables (3), computer

accessories (5) and power tools/ drill (6).


Appendix 2 – Household chemicals by weight

Table 27 - Household chemicals by weight, Victoria, 2013

Category Weight (kg/household/wk)Metro Non-metro Victoria

Chemicals

(Detox Your

Home)

Acids/alkalis 0.000 0.003 0.001Aerosol cans 0.003 0.001 0.003Anti-freeze 0.000 0.000 0.000Batteries (household akaline) 0.009 0.022 0.013Batteries (car) 0.000 0.039 0.011Brake fluid 0.000 0.000 0.000Car body filler 0.000 0.000 0.000Cleaners (ammonia based) 0.000 0.000 0.000Compact fluorescent light globes (CFLs) and starters 0.001 0.003 0.002Cooking oil 0.000 0.006 0.002Coolant 0.000 0.000 0.000Detergents/ disinfectants/ drain cleaners 0.002 0.002 0.002Fertiliser 0.000 0.000 0.000Fire extinguishers 0.000 0.000 0.000Floor-care products and waxes 0.000 0.002 0.001Fluorescent tubes 0.000 0.003 0.001Fuels (petrol/diesel/kerosene/other) 0.000 0.002 0.001Gas cylinders (up to 9kg BBQ/ leisure) 0.000 0.000 0.000Glues (water based/solvents) 0.001 0.000 0.001Herbicides/ weed killers 0.000 0.000 0.000Insect spray/ pesticides 0.000 0.000 0.000Motor oil 0.000 0.003 0.001Nail polish/ remover 0.001 0.000 0.001Oven cleaners 0.000 0.000 0.000Paint (paint and tin) 0.005 0.015 0.0079Paint stripper/thinner/turps 0.002 0.000 0.001Pharmaceuticals 0.006 0.007 0.006Pool chemicals 0.000 0.000 0.000Rat poison 0.000 0.000 0.000Solvents 0.000 0.001 0.000Transmission fluid 0.000 0.006 0.002Wood preservatives/ finishes (oils/ varnish) 0.000 0.000 0.000

Sub-total 0.031 0.117 0.056


Table 27 (continued) Household chemicals by weight, Victoria, 2013

Category Weight (kg/household/wk)Metro Non-metro Victoria

Other


Dust 0.000 0.014 0.004Hazardous mixed fines 0.000 0.003 0.001Headlights 0.000 0.003 0.001Incandescent globes 0.002 0.001 0.001Mobile phones 0.000 0.002 0.001Needles/ medical 0.000 0.000 0.000Oil filters 0.000 0.005 0.001Printer cartridges 0.001 0.001 0.001Sunscreen 0.000 0.002 0.000Toiletries/ cosmetics 0.014 0.008 0.013TVs/monitors 0.000 0.000 0.000Other e-waste 0.066 0.126 0.083Other (unknown) 0.006 0.014 0.008Sub-total 0.103 0.222 0.136Total 0.134 0.339 0.192

* Some categories listed in Table 3 are not shown in the table above, due to having zero results. These include anti-freeze, asbestos, brake fluid, car body filler, car wax, car coolant computers fire extinguishers, oven cleaners, pool chemicals, wood preservatives/ finishes (oils/ varnish) and TVs/monitors.


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