Wondering where to recycle garden waste? You’ve come to the right place. Here at Ridly, we are the experts when it comes to green and garden waste disposal.
Sydney’s leading provider of garden waste collection services, Ridly, are also the most sustainable rubbish removal company in the country. As such, as well as providing fantastic green waste removal services, we’re also the "author"ity on responsible disposal and can provide a variety of environmentally conscious, sustainable and affordable answers to the question of “where to recycle garden waste?”.
Ridly’s rubbish removal experts have put together the ultimate guide to garden waste disposal. Ultimately, our primary concern is to educate Australians on the importance of recycling, and in this case, recycling garden waste sustainably. Read on to have all of your green and garden waste questions answered and learn how to recycle garden waste.
What Is Garden Waste?
Whether you have a full backyard, a small veggie patch, or you’re tending to your balcony and indoor greenery, the waste that comes from plants, trees, grass, mulch and twigs are classified as garden waste or green waste. All types of gardens – big or small – need a little bit of maintenance every now and then. Gather your organic waste and learn where and how to recycle garden waste effectively.
If you’re planning on doing some work on your garden, no matter how big or small, you’ll need to dispose of the waste effectively. This means separating your recyclable garden waste (items that can go in the green bin) from your non-recyclable green waste (items that cannot go in the green bin). Separating your garden waste from your regular waste is key.
Why Do I Need to Learn Where to Recycle Garden Waste?
Recycling garden waste is a crucial step in doing your bit for the environment. When recycled correctly, garden waste can be reused and repurposed in soil conditioning, mulch and compost solutions.
Garden waste management is a key environmental factor in Australia – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australians produced 15.3 million tonnes of organic waste between 2018 and 2019. 42% of that waste was sent for recycling, while 45% was sent to landfill.
That’s almost half of all organic waste that is being incorrectly sent to landfill, where it can go on to produce extremely harmful toxins into the atmosphere. Learning where and how to recycle garden waste is a crucial step in understanding your part in unnecessary landfill contribution.
Can’t I Just Put Garden Waste into the Normal Bin?
No. There’s a reason that garden waste has to be separated from general waste. Green or garden waste should not go into the regular waste bin as it should not go to the landfill along with other general waste items.
When organic materials are put into landfill, it is generally compacted down and quickly covered by more waste. This removes the oxygen and causes the matter to break down in an anaerobic process. Eventually, this green waste decomposition produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Garden waste such as grass clippings, branches, twigs, leaves, mulch and flowers may seem harmless but can be harmful when not disposed of correctly. Garden waste is biodegradable; however, it will produce harmful methane when not able to decompose correctly or be recycled. It is very, very important that garden waste is not placed with regular waste.
Now that you’re aware of the harmful risks of garden waste being taken to landfill, let’s break down your options for where to recycle garden waste safely, sustainably and for your own benefit, in an affordable manner.
Where to Recycle Garden Waste: Your Green Bin
Green waste bins are an easy and free way to remove and recycle garden waste from your property. Green waste bins are wheelie bins provided by your local council, with a green lid to separate the waste from the red (general waste) and yellow (recycling) waste wheelie bins for your property.
Green waste bins are specifically for garden waste and are collected fortnightly from outside the property. The collected garden waste is recycled and converted into mulch, soil conditioners and composts. This is a free collection service provided to all residents of the council.
What Goes in the Green Waste Bin?
- Leaves
- Plants
- Grass Clippings
- Twigs
- Weeds
- Small Branches
- Untreated Timber
- Shredded Paper
- Food Scraps & Peelings
What Can’t Go in the Green Bin?
There is a long list of items that definitely cannot go in the green waste bin. This is because garden waste that typically goes in the green bin is recovered and reprocessed into compost and mulch. If any items go into the green bin that shouldn’t be there, the entire batch is contaminated and may end up in the landfill.
The main items that should not go into your green bin include:
- Food Scraps
- Compostable & Biodegradable Packaging/Containers
- Compostable Nappies
- Plant Pots or Garden Equipment
- Soil
- Rock or Building Materials
- Plastic
- Treated Timber
- Pet Waste
- Tree Stumps
- Polystyrene
- Non-Organic Items
- Building Waste
Where to Recycle Garden Waste: Garden Waste Disposal Service
Another solution for recycling garden waste is to hire a professional removal service. For those who do not have green waste wheelie bins or have more than a bins-worth of garden waste to dispose of and recycle, hiring a company to safely and responsibly remove your garden waste is your best bet.
Ridly are Sydney’s leading provider of exceptional garden waste disposal services. We offer same-day services, providing reliable, efficient and effective garden waste collection and responsible disposal. Clean up your garden and outdoor areas with Ridly. Many of our removal experts have a background in gardening, making our team the most experienced and trusted garden waste removalists in Sydney.
Where Can I Dump Garden Waste Near Me?
If you’re reading this and wondering, “where can I dump garden waste near me or my property?” then, unfortunately, we think you’ve got the wrong idea (and the wrong attitude)! The term ‘dump’ insinuates that you plan to dispose of your waste in the wrong area or with no accountability – this is illegal.
Dumping your garden waste in an area that is not set up to safely and responsibly recycle green waste is illegal in Australia. There is no reason to dump your garden waste anywhere – we have the resources and the facilities to effectively and responsibly manage garden waste.
If you’re looking to learn where to recycle garden waste, then we can help. Australians and Sydneysiders, in particular, do not need to dump garden waste. We’re fortunate enough to have access to fantastic garden waste recycling services wherever you’re located. Between your green waste wheelie bins, scheduled council collections and fantastic garden waste removal services at your fingertips, there is no reason that you should need to think about dumping your garden waste!
Can I Take Garden Waste to the Tip?
If you plan to remove your garden waste yourself, do not take your garden waste to any old tip or landfill. There are plenty of green waste recycling centres where to recycle garden waste, located across the country, who accept all green and organic waste materials. Not only will this mean the safe and responsible recycling of garden waste (repurposing materials into mulch, compost and soil conditioning), but it also means that the waste will not be dumped with general waste where it will become covered and decompose in a way that produces methane.
Take Care of Your Garden with Ridly
If you’re fortunate enough to house a garden on your property, count yourself lucky. For many, their gardens are a place in which they can get a breath of fresh air, relax while getting some vitamin D, or spend the afternoon enjoying the outdoors with children and friends.
However, many gardens are often left neglected. Whether it be due to a lack of time or gardening knowledge, garden maintenance can quickly get away from you and turn from a few weeds into an overgrown mess. It’s pretty tough to either sit down and relax or organise a garden party for your closest friends and family when your backyard is overgrown, saturated with weeds and in need of some TLC.
Not only is a neglected garden unsightly, but it can also be dangerous. A mess in your garden can increase the risk of fire and provide a fertile breeding ground for rodents, insects and other pests.
Your first step, obviously, is to pull on some gardening gloves and get to work. Gardening and maintaining plants can be a very enjoyable, relaxing and satisfying job. Step two, however, is to promptly and efficiently get rid of all of the garden waste created from your hard work. This includes grass and flower cuttings, hedge trimmings and bushes, tree branches, logs and stumps, soil grass and turf, and all other general backyard green waste.
Finally, your third step is to call the experts at Ridly. Offering same-day garden waste collection, we’ll make sure to safely and responsibly get rid of your garden waste. The question of where to recycle garden waste goes out the window when you work with Ridly. We can take small green waste bundles, or we can fill one of our trucks up with your garden waste and have it safely recycled. Speak to one of our experts on 0491 181 130 for a free quote on garden waste recycling today.