More than 30,000 tonnes of food scraps contributed by Aucklanders since the food scraps collections began in April last year have been used to produce renewable energy and fertiliser.
Auckland’s food scraps have created enough energy to provide renewable gas to 300,000 homes for a month.
As of this month, this renewable energy is now being fed into the national gas pipeline for the first time in New Zealand, with Auckland’s food scraps generating enough renewable gas to regularly supply 18,000 homes.
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, says reaching the 30,000 tonnes milestone is one Aucklanders can feel proud of.
“Thank you to every Aucklander who is helping to keep food scraps out of landfill so they can be transformed into resources. In participating in the food scraps service, you are reducing our environmental impact and contributing to a sustainable future.”
Auckland’s diverted food scraps have also created enough liquid fertiliser to be spread on nearly 100 km2 of productive land; that’s the equivalent land size of 13,500 rugby fields.
By participating in the food scraps service, Aucklanders have saved the equivalent of 19,600 tonnes of harmful greenhouse gas emissions from landfill. The effect is similar to taking approximately 6,000 cars off Auckland’s roads, or the equivalent of planting half a million trees.
The food scraps are processed at New Zealand’s only anaerobic digestion facility, run by locally owned company Ecogas, which converts the food scraps into biogas, electricity, heat and liquid fertiliser used by farmers and growers in the North Island.
Over 465,000 food scraps bins were delivered to Auckland homes, in the largest rollout of a collection service in Australasia.
Tips for summer
With summer fast approaching, warmer temperatures can bring an increase to pests and odours in the home.
Separating food scraps to put out for kerbside collection or for home composting can seem a bit more challenging, but there are easy ways to beat the summer heat and keep pests and odours at bay.
Prevent pests and odours at home in warmer weather by trying one or more of these tried-and-true tips:
- Pour boiling water over banana skins in the kitchen sink straight after peeling them to kill fruit fly eggs that have hitched a ride.
- Keep vegetable peelings dry. The less moisture the less likely they are to smell and attract flies.
- Throw a handful of baking soda or bokashi zing/bran on top of food scraps.
- Put food scraps in the fridge or freezer (an ice cream container with a lid is the perfect size for this).
If using the kitchen caddy supplied by Auckland Council or another food scraps container for the kitchen, remember to:
- Line the kitchen caddy with Auckland Council pink compostable bin liners – available from retailers and made entirely of cornstarch so safe for home compost.
- Change the bin liners regularly to avoid spills and reduce food odours.
- Empty the kitchen caddy more frequently into the food scraps bin and lock the lid in place.
- Wipe tea tree oil around the lids of the kitchen caddy and food scraps bin to repel flies and other insects.
- Clean the kitchen caddy and food scraps bin regularly – use anti-bacterial spray or dishwashing liquid with water and dry before use.
- Place the food scraps bin in a shady spot – not in direct sunlight.
- Food scraps can be put directly into the food scraps bin, but the liners will help keep pests away if tied up.
Remember to put the food scraps bin out weekly and help continue transforming rukenga kai into renewable energy and fertiliser to grow more kai. Together, let’s help Auckland reach its goal of being zero waste by 2040.
