2017-03-07 S&O Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 9 Green Waste Survey Report

6.3    CONTAMINATION
Contamination comprised 0.5% of the greenwaste collected. Contamination generally
consisted of minor amounts of plastic and newspaper or recyclable material typically
cans, bottles and plastics. One soiled nappy was also encountered.
AREA SPECIFIC:    In sandy soil areas (Sunrise Beach), sand and leaves are either
raked or vacuumed, resulting in a considerable quantity of sand in the green waste
leaf category. Thus the leaf weight would be an overestimate here. Sand is not
organic and it will not contribute to the total mass of degradable material.

7      CONCLUSIONS

A greenwaste survey trial has been undertaken in four (4) selected locations within
the Noosa Council local authority area. The purpose of the survey was to determine
the quantity of fruit and vegetable waste disposed of by participating householders in
their greenwaste bin.
On aggregate, fruit and vegetable waste comprised 4% (by weight) of the total
greenwaste collected in the audit. The average greenwaste bin weight (net) was 14.5
kg for the four survey areas. On this basis fruit and vegetable waste comprises about
600g per average green waste bin.
Historic monthly greenwaste bin data indicate average bin weights vary up to 3.5kg
from month to month, depending on the season of the year, rainfall, and holiday
season. Any trends in average bin weights over the subject trial period may therefore
be disguised by these other influences.
Characterisation of the greenwaste stream may be skewed due to prolonged dry
weather conditions preceding and during the trial. Normal and wet weather conditions
are likely to produce variations to the reported distributions and average bin weights.
Ancillary observations were recorded during the trial such as excessive odour,
excessive bin weights (>70kg), and description of any contamination. Contamination
was found to be minor (about 0.5% by weight) but included soiled nappy, animal
faeces, fruitfly larvae and animal bones.
 Excessive odour was noted on a number of occasions, and a few householders
 provided feedback with their opinions on odour, hygiene and desired frequency of
service.

 Some issues were found to be area specific, such as sand comingled with the green
waste leaf category (Sunrise Beach) and palm fronds placed in both general and
 greenwaste bins (Noosa Waters).

 Noosa Council
 Greenwaste Survey                                          Rolfe Perry & Associates Pty Ltd
 Report                                                                       J386
 6 December 2016                      Page 14