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What belongs in your council green bin and what to compost at home

As Australia moves to divert more organics from landfill, industrial-scale composting and kerbside organics services (often called green bins or FOGO — Food Organics & Garden Organics) are becoming a core part of waste systems. Industrial composting facilities are engineered to break down large volumes of organic material under controlled conditions (temperature, oxygen, moisture) using methods such as windrow piling, in-vessel tunnels and anaerobic digestion. These processes reach temperatures as high as 80 degrees C that destroys most weed seeds and plant pathogens that may be present — something backyard compost heaps rarely do at scale. Backyard worm farms will also never get hot enough to take care of weeds and diseases either. There are also materials such as coffee cups that need the extra process of an industrial composting process to fully break down.

What industrial facilities can accept (and why it matters)

Industrial facilities are designed to handle mixed organic streams from households, businesses and landscapers. Many commercial composters will accept garden prunings, lawn clippings, leaves, food scraps (including meat, dairy and bones) and some certified compostable packaging — provided the facility’s technology, licence and operating procedures allow those materials. The high temperatures and controlled maturation in industrial systems make them suitable for materials that would attract pests or smell if left in a household bin. However, facilities are regulated and must meet planning and environmental requirements, so feedstocks sometimes vary by site.

Green bins vs garden-only bins (the key difference)


Not all “green” bins are equal. Many councils run a garden-waste-only service (green lid) that accepts lawn clippings, leaves, small prunings and woody garden trimmings — but explicitly excludes food scraps, nappies, soil, treated timber, plastics and animal droppings. By contrast, FOGO or lime-green lids are specifically for food organics plus garden waste; these are the bins that typically feed industrial composters that accept food scraps. Because rollout and rules differ by state and council, always check your local council’s guidance before putting something in the green bin.

Common “what goes in” / “what stays out” rules (practical checklist)

• Generally accepted in FOGO/organics bins: fruit and vegetable scraps, plate scrapings, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves (sometimes tea bags — check your local council as some tea bags have plastics embedded in them), cooked food, meat and fish (where your service is FOGO), lawn clippings, leaves, small branches. 

• Often excluded from garden-only green bins: food/kitchen waste, soil and potting mix, plastic bags (including many biodegradable or compostable plastics unless certified), nappies, pet droppings, treated timber and large logs. Many councils accept certified compostable caddy liners that meet Australian standard AS 4736 — but regular plastics and uncertified “biodegradable” bags should never go in. 

What to compost at home (and smart alternatives)

Backyard composting, worm farms and bokashi systems are terrific for closing the loop in small gardens. Home composting is perfect for:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps (avoid large volumes of meat, bones and dairy unless using bokashi + burial).

• Garden prunings, leaves, straw, shredded paper and dry “brown” material to balance moist “green” scraps.

• Coffee grounds, tea leaves (check tea bag materials), eggshells and small amounts of cooked food if your system is hot and well managed.

Avoid putting meat, bones, dairy, large amounts of oily/greasy food, diseased plants, persistent weed seeds or animal faeces into a simple backyard heap — they attract pests or may not reach high enough temperatures to be safe. If you want to process all kitchen waste at home, consider bokashi fermentation (which treats all food including meat, then needs burial or composting post-fermentation) or a larger, well-managed hot compost heap. The 220L Compost Tumbler | Tumbleweed is a great way to create a ‘hot’ compost system in your backyard. To get the maximum heat it is best to fill it completely in one go with the right mixture of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ materials (this blog will help you What is Composting? | Tumbleweed). 

How to avoid confusion and contamination

Because rules vary between councils (and states are standardising systems at different paces), the single best action is to check your local council’s “what goes in your bins” page. Contamination (e.g., plastics in organics) undermines compost quality and can mean entire loads are rejected, so follow your council’s list, use approved compostable liners if allowed, and keep glass, plastic and nappies out of organics. 

Final takeaways

Industrial composting complements home composting: facilities process materials that are difficult or risky to handle at home (meat, bones, large volumes), while backyard systems turn garden and kitchen scraps into valuable soil for your garden. Know which bin your council operates (garden-only vs FOGO), follow local guidance, and use home composting, worm farms or bokashi to reduce what you send away. Composting at home also creates free fertiliser by recycling commonly available household materials that enrich your soil with nutrients to grow your own food, win/win! Together, household action and well-managed industrial composting keep organics out of landfill — cutting methane emissions and building your garden soil. 

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