{
  "id": 8770937,
  "title": "With this 'little bit', households can help tackle organic waste problem",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/with-this-little-bit-households-can-help-tackle-organic-waste-problem",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T21:04:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-21/home-composting-recycling-organic-waste-solution-to-landfill/107167588"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Households across the country are being encouraged to help address the growing issue of organic waste by diverting it from landfill. Queensland, in particular, aims to recycle 65 per cent of its waste by 2035, with food and garden waste being a key focus. Benjamin Head, a sustainable-living advocate, demonstrates how individuals can make a difference by implementing simple recycling habits. Head's suburban Gold Coast home has become a waste ecosystem, with his rubbish pile steadily reducing over two decades. By separating compostable materials from general rubbish, Head has saved money and contributed to a cleaner environment for future generations. His approach involves composting kitchen leftovers, grass clippings, flowers, and leaves, resulting in nutrient-rich soil for his garden. With approximately 300,000 tonnes of residual waste generated annually on the Gold Coast, Head emphasizes that collective efforts are crucial to achieving the state's waste reduction targets. Queensland's waste strategy, released in June, sets a goal of reducing residual waste by 65 per cent over the next decade, with a particular emphasis on addressing organics, which make up half of the state's total landfill waste. However, only 11 of Queensland's 77 councils currently provide green bin services for garden waste, leaving many residents without access to this service. Council-led initiatives, such as the Advanced Resource Recovery Centre on the Gold Coast, offer programs to incentivize residential organic recycling, including home composting and worm farms. To improve overall resource recovery rates, the strategy also calls for additional funding for organics-processing infrastructure and support for activities like home and community composting. While local efforts are essential, experts argue that national policymakers must provide consistent support and messaging to ensure widespread adoption of these practices.",
  "summary": "Just 11 of 77 councils in Queensland offer kerbside green bin services, and only some provide FOGO bins. One resident is passionate about home composting as a solution to managing organic waste.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}