Compost Giveaway (ICAW)

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is an annual initiative of the Centre for Organic Research & Education, promoting a week of activities, events and education to improve awareness of the importance of compost.

Click here for more information.

Organic waste is a valuable resource when it is managed properly

Composting is the most effective and efficient way to process food and garden waste materials. When these types of organic waste end up in landfill, they decay and create methane - a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere.

Local household waste audit data (2017) shows that almost 50% of households in Singleton use more than 90% of their bins capacity, with 30% (3kgs) of this being food waste. 

Composting serves to: 

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Improve soil quality, erosion and runoff
• Save space in household bins 
• Save landfill space

All registered participants in ICAW initiatives will go in the draw to win 1 of 5 prize packs to get started with diverting organic waste at home, including:

• 1 x Tumbleweed compost or warm farm kit
• 1 x Tumbleweed kitchen caddy
• 1 x $50 Spend in Singleton gift card
• 1 x bag of premium compost

Winners will be drawn on 31 May 2023 and announced on Council’s Facebook Page.

Click here to download the colouring page, or pop into any of the listed Council facilities to pick one up! T&Cs apply. 

Although food waste is not currently compatible for kerbside servicing, home compost and worm farm systems are an easy and effective way to remove food and organic waste from your general waste bin and divert it from our landfill.

Check out Gardening Australia's Compost 101 with Costa Georgiadis, where he explains all things compost including: 

• Microorganisms and how composts works
• The types of organic materials needed
• How to set up a simple compost system at home 
• How to create 'Weed Tea' and why

Your GO bin has a lime green lid and is collected fortnightly (opposite to Recycling). All households with an active waste service are entitled to this service provision. 

What can go in your GO bin?

• Grass clippings 
• Prunings 
• Weeds 
• Leaves
• Flowers 
• Plants
• Bark 
• Sticks and Small Branches (max. diameter 10cm) 
• Roots (max. diameter 10cm)
• Palm Fronds

Head to Your Organics Bin for more information.

What happens to the materials after collection? 

The materials collected through this service (as well as organic material collected at Singleton Waste Management Facility) are processed at Australian Native Landscapes in Tea Gardens, where it then becomes a range of quality composts and soil conditioners.

Council often holds compost giveaways using these very products – completing the cycle!