Food is something we all enjoy—and something we often waste without realising. Whether it’s buying more than we need, cooking bigger portions than necessary, or forgetting leftovers at the back of the fridge, the scraps we toss out soon add up.
A recent kerbside bin audit by Lane Cove Council revealed that the average household throws away 3.5 kilograms of food each week. That’s more than 3,500 tonnes of food waste every year heading to landfill.
To tackle this growing issue, Lane Cove Council is launching a new Food Waste Service, a major step forward in cutting landfill, reducing emissions, and turning food scraps into something useful.
What’s Changing – and When?
The rollout will begin in March 2026, starting with stand-alone houses. Residents in townhouses, units, and apartments will be able to join the service from 2027.
How the Service Works
Every eligible household will receive:
- A kitchen caddy
- Compostable liners
- A maroon-lid food waste bin
Residents place food scraps into their lined kitchen caddy, empty it into their outdoor maroon-lid food waste bin every few days, and leave the bin out for weekly collection on their usual bin day. The collected material is then processed into nutrient-rich soil conditioner and renewable energy, giving food waste a powerful second life.
Importantly, all other waste and recycling services remain unchanged.
Why a Separate Food Waste Bin?
Lane Cove’s green-lidded garden waste bins are sent to a facility that produces high-quality compost. Adding food scraps would contaminate this process and reduce the quality of the final product. By collecting food waste separately, Lane Cove Council can use low-emission technologies and maintain the integrity of the garden waste stream.
This is also why Lane Cove has opted not to introduce a combined FOGO system (Food Organics + Garden Organics). Keeping streams separate preserves quality and enables more efficient, sustainable processing.
Who Should Use the Service?
Everyone. Even residents who compost at home are encouraged to participate, especially for items such as:
- Meat and fish scraps
- Bones
- Dairy
- Cooked foods
These items are typically unsuitable for home composting but can be safely processed through the Council’s new system.
Key Dates to Remember
February 2026 – Stand-alone homes receive their kitchen caddy, liners, and maroon-lid food waste bin, along with instructions.
March 2026 – Weekly food waste collections officially begin.
Where Locals Can Learn More
Lane Cove Council is hosting information stalls and community workshops throughout late 2025. These sessions are an excellent opportunity to ask questions, learn how the service works, and pick up tips for reducing food waste at home.
Upcoming Workshops & Info Stalls
Wed 26 Nov – 10am–12pm, Lane Cove Library
Mon 1 – Fri 5 Dec – 3:30pm–5pm, Lane Cove Aquatic Centre
Thurs 4 Dec – 9am–11am, Lane Cove Aquatic Centre
Sat 6 Dec – 9am–11am, Lane Cove Aquatic Centre
Sat 6 Dec – 12pm–3pm, Greenwich Village Games, Bob Campbell Oval
Wed 10 Dec – 10am–12pm, Lane Cove Market Square
Need More Information?
If you have questions about what can go in the food waste bin, how the service works, or whether it affects your other collections, Council is ready to help.
Contact: 📞 9911 3555
💬 Submit a service request online here
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