In 2018-19 the City of Holdfast Bay and Green Industries SA tested a new way to reduce food waste going to landfill. They ran a pilot program where 2 local supermarkets gave out compostable produce bags, instead of plastic ones.
The bags, used to carry loose, fresh produce, were certified compostable to Australian Standards and could safely break down during composting processes. They could be reused as liners in kitchen caddies and placed in green waste bins. A large graphic showing how the bags could be used to collect food waste for the green bin was printed on the trial bags.
Producing and disposing of wasted food in Australia generates about 3.5% of Australia's annual emissions. The program aimed to reduce the amount of food going to landfill, by making it easier for households to recycle food waste using their green bin.
Before the trial, residents could only pick up free compostable bags from council offices. This was a barrier for lots of people, and only about 30% picked up the bags. During the trial, 2 supermarkets supplied free, compostable bags to their customers, making them easier to get.
The results were positive. The amount of food waste that was recycled into compost rather than sent to landfill rose from 9% to nearly 37%. By the end of the trial almost no compostable bags were found in landfill bins.
Most residents liked the idea and wanted the program to continue. About 75% said they would be happy to pay for the compostable bags.
After the trial the council worked with the 2 supermarkets, offering rebates to keep compostable bags in stores. From 2020, other supermarket chains started to offer compostable produce bags. In September 2024, South Australia banned plastic barrier bags for loose produce.
In South Australia, residents can now use compostable produce bags as kitchen caddy liners for food waste. This helps reduce landfill waste and supports better recycling across the state.
