Penrith celebrates International Compost Awareness Week

Monday, 2 May 2016

Council is celebrating International Compost Awareness Week and for good reason.

Since the introduction of the three bin system in 2009 Council's landfill diversion rate is up from 21% to 65%, which in dollar terms has saved the community over $10 million in landfill fees.

Penrith is one of the best performing councils in metropolitan Sydney and Australia in terms of reducing waste to landfill while recovering organics.

The three bin system requires residents to correctly sort their waste with food waste and garden vegetation being collected separately. This organic material collected from household bins is then processed and turned into compost material which can be used on local community sporting fields, parks and gardens.

"Community members are to be congratulated on their actions as Penrith continues to reap the benefits of organic composting," Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown said.

The Penrith Community continues to demonstrate that they have clearly 'Got it sorted' when it comes to household practice and the importance of reducing waste, recovering organics and recycling.

Environmental benefits of composting:

• Recovered household organics material becomes valuable compost
• Improving soil quality and garden vitality
• Preventing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the amount of recyclable organics going to landfill
• Recycling valuable nutrients and decreasing the use of artificial fertilisers
• Improving water savings
• Preserving natural resources

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Monday, 2 May 2016.