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Green Bin - organics, kitchen caddy, greenwaste disposal

What can go in your green bin (collected weekly)

You can put greenwaste from your garden straight into your green bin and also:

  • All food waste
  • Garden greenwaste
  • Meat and small bones
  • Newspaper

You can use your kitchen caddy (pictured) or a reused container by your sink to collect your food scraps in before taking them out to the green bin. To order a kitchen caddy click HERE.

For more information our booklet 'Your guide to Central Otago's kerbside collection' can be found online HERE.


Greenwaste disposal

Facilities for greenwaste are located at the Ranfurly, Roxburgh, Alexandra and Cromwell transfer stations.

AcceptedNot Accepted
lawn clippings
hedge clippings
weeds
untreated sawdust
tree trimmings with branches up to 150mm in diameter 		broom, gorse
cabbage trees
flax
timber offcuts
crates, wood packaging
or gib; animal carcases/pelts/guts/tails
ashes, soil and stones

For greenwaste charges please see our Fees & Charges.

The Transfer Station attendant will inspect your loads to ensure it is greenwaste only and direct where you are to dump. All greenwaste facilities operate during normal Transfer Station hours.

Home Composting Options

Pictured: The late Fred Peyton who shared his knowledge and passion for composting by leading workshops in Central Otago for many years.

We need everyone's help to make the best use of their green bins to keep greenwaste out of landfill. However, if you are not on a kerbside collection route there are plenty of options that can help you recycle your organic waste at home through composting. Home composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces costs and benefits your garden. Composting systems may take a little more care in Central Otago’s extreme temperatures, but choosing a system that suits your circumstances can have great benefits for reducing waste to landfill and returning nutrients to soils.

COMING SOON: More info on hot or cold composting and worm farm techniques.

Bokashi Composting

Bokashi composting is a technique which seems to suit the hot, dry and cold climate of Central Otago and quickly makes compost out of all types of food scraps, which can be slow to break down and can attract vermin in other compost systems.

“Bokashi” is a Japanese word meaning “fermented organic matter”.

This type of composting uses special buckets to ferment the food waste before it is dug into the ground. It can create nutrient-rich soil in around four weeks.

You can buy a bucket system from Zing Bokashi online or from local DIY stores. Alternatively, you can make a bucket system of your own: How to Make a Bokashi Bin with a Tap (youtube.com).

You will still need to buy the special bran that causes the fermentation process.

Advantages include:

  • Decreased composting time - up to 50% quicker than traditional composting.
  • Less odour as the food decays, due to the Bokashi fermenting, rather than decomposing process.
  • Increased growing power resulting in healthier and more productive plants.
  • Easy to use, requiring no mixing and produces a very natural pour-on liquid fertiliser as well as physical compost.
  • Bokashi buckets are compact and (because they don't smell) you can easily keep them inside.
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