Composting your food waste

There are three main types of composting systems.

Traditional composting

This is good for large quantities, including garden waste.

You can add:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Garden clippings
• Leaves

Traditional composting isn't suitable for meat, bones or dairy.

Worm farming

The worms do all the work - they just need to be fed small amounts, regularly.

You can add:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Crushed eggshells
• Small amounts of bread or pasta

Not suitable for:

• Meat and bones
• Garlic, citrus, onion or chilli
• Dairy or oils
• Garden clippings

Bokashi

This is a 'fast' system designed to be used in your kitchen and can sit on your benchtop; it's great for those with limited space.

You can add:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat and bones
• Cooked leftovers
• Eggshells
• Bread and dairy
• Garlic, citrus and onion
• Chilli and oils

Not suitable for:

• Garden clippings

What goes into your FOGO kerbside bin?

Some local councils have a 3-bin kerbside system, and one of them is a FOGO - Food Organics and Garden Organics - bin.

• Your FOGO bin is for food organics, garden organics, and other compostable items.
• All food scraps can go in the FOGO bin, including fruit, vegetables, bread, meat, bones and leftovers. You can also add grass clippings, flowers, weeds, herbs, small branches and leaves.
• It is essential to keep all plastic, aluminium, glass and anything labelled 'biodegradable' out of the FOGO bin.

The contents of FOGO bins are transported to a waste composting facility where they are turned into soil conditioner or compost.

Source: wastesorted.wa.gov.au