Embrace Naturality in Your Green Bin – New Guidelines for Byron Shire Residents

As of January 25, 2024, Byron Shire residents are urged to be mindful of the contents they dispose of in their green wheelie bins due to recent changes in NSW waste management regulations. The focus is on adopting a “nude and natural” approach, emphasising the exclusion of certain items from the green bin.

Sarah Child, a member of the Council’s Resource Recovery team, highlighted the importance of adhering to the updated guidelines. The key principle is to refrain from including packaging, paper, teabags, or various products like coffee cups, wooden cutlery, or bamboo containers in the green bin.

Residents seeking more information on the modified green bin regulations can visit the “Changes to What Goes in Your Green Bin” section on the Council’s website.

Ms. Child clarified that aside from Australian Certified compostable caddy liners and sheets of newspaper used for lining food scraps bins, no synthetic materials should be disposed of in the green bin. The NSW Environment Protection Authority has instigated these changes to address the prevalence of disposable items claiming compostability but containing potentially harmful chemicals.

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“The green bins are designed to convert waste into natural compost,” Ms. Child emphasised. Therefore, only food and garden waste should be deposited in the green bins. The call to “go nude and natural” is not just an environmental consideration but aligns with health concerns associated with harmful substances.

Residents seeking more information on the modified green bin Byron Shire regulations can visit the “Changes to What Goes in Your Green Bin” section on the Council’s website.

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