PRESS RELEASE: Better Compost with Smart Bans
The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) is calling for an immediate phase-out of items that frequently contaminate Garden Organics (GO) and Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) feedstocks. Contamination is a significant challenge for organic recycling processors, directly impacting the quality and marketability of compost products made from GO and FOGO.
Without prompt action to ban select items from everyday use, these contaminants will continue to compromise compost quality, drive up production costs, and reduce the environmental benefits of compost applications. Beyond bans, improved disposal management of other common contaminants is essential to support effective organic recycling and its positive environmental impact.
The important transition to a circular economy necessitates a careful and considered approach to eliminating some items that are well known as contaminants in organics. AORA is calling for bans on three such items:
• Plastic fruit and vegetable food labels.
• Plastic bread seals.
• Styrofoam food packaging.
These items are ubiquitous contaminant problems within organic processing facilities, are almost impossible to remove and compromise end-product quality.
In addition to the items to be banned, AORA is calling for better disposal management of four items which are also abundant contaminants in organics:
• Disposable wipes.
• Batteries of all description.
• Vapes of all descriptions.
• All plastic packaging.
The four items listed for better disposal management are equally problematic within organic feedstock steams but are recognised as being more difficult to ban. However, these items need improved management at their end-of-use and clear, ‘proper’ disposal options communicated and available.
Australia’s leading peak waste and recycling industry organisations recently joined together to call for urgent action on the growing hazard posed by batteries (inclusive of vapes) and electronics in conventional waste and recycling streams.
For more information, please review the AORA ‘Better Compost with Smart Bans’ Position Paper on the AORA website (www.aora.org.au).
