Compostable containers include 100% paper, cardboard, wood, rye straw or bioplastic products with no lining or additives.
Which Bin?
These items can be composted by placing them in your green bin along with any left-over food or drink.
Examples include:
- cardboard pizza boxes
- cardboard burger boxes
- cardboard clam shells
- paper bags
- paper towel, napkins and tissues
- bamboo plates, clam shells and cutlery
- sugarcane or corn-starch products
- bioplastic products that are certified 100% compostable eg. have the seedling logo AS4736
Certifications are only used to distinguish compostable bioplastics from regular plastics. Whilst most commercial composters accept both European (EN 13432) and US Standards (USASTM D6400 or D6868) the Australian Standard (AS4736) is the preferred and highest standard. Check the label to see if it states ‘100% compostable’ with a certification.
If you are unsure if the item is 100% compostable, ask the takeaway venue for confirmation. If the packaging is not 100% compostable, then it cannot be placed in the green bin.
Regular plastic takeaway containers need to be empty and given a quick rinse then placed in your yellow recycle bin.
Other composite takeaway items such as plastic lined coffee cups or cold cups with a plastic or waxy lining need to be placed in the waste-to-landfill bin.
Avoid, reduce and re-use!
Whilst compostable packaging provides a great alternative to using composite or plastic packaging, it is best to avoid disposable packaging all together and choose to reusable items instead!
Choose to re-use
Coffee cups, drink cups, cutlery, straws and takeaway containers and drinnk bottles. Just make sure you clean items thoroughly between each use with hot water and detergent or by placing them in the dishwasher!
Click here to find cafe’s accepting reusable coffee cups in SA.
Click here to find local cafe’s and restaurants that accept reusable takeaway containers.
