City to trial innovative food waste recycling process

Are you a City of Gosnells resident with an interest in sustainability and a desire to make better use of waste?

In a first for Western Australia, the City of Gosnells will trial an innovative food waste recycling process, with insect larvae converting food waste into high quality fertiliser and providing protein for animal feed. 

Mayor Terresa Lynes said the three-year GOsFO pilot program, which will start later this year, will initially involve just 2,000 households, on an opt-in basis. 

“Residents who opt in to the trial will receive a 140-litre burgundy bin plus a 5-litre benchtop caddy with compostable liners, to collect food waste,” she said. 

“The burgundy bins will be collected each week, between Tuesday and Thursday, and we expect to process about 5 tonnes of food scraps each week, which equates to around 780 tonnes of food waste being processed over three years. 

“This is an excellent result – with a range of positive environmental outcomes.” Mayor Lynes said food creates greenhouse gases, including methane, when it breaks down in landfill, affecting air quality and public health and contributing to climate change. 

“The City of Gosnells is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and GOsFO will help us to do that,” she said. 

Mayor Lynes said a City of Gosnells survey in 2023 indicated that a significant number of local residents were keen to have the option to recycle food waste and were willing to pay a small fee to achieve this goal. 

“The cost of the pilot program to participants will be $80 per financial year, with a pro-rata charge to apply in 2024/25, as the program won’t start until later in the year,” she said. 

“Through GOsFO, residents will be able to dispose of a wide range of food scraps, including fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood, cheese and dairy products, eggs and their shells, pasta, rice, cereal, bread and baked goods, tea and coffee – including teabags – plus takeaway food and leftovers,” she said. 

To find out more about the GOsFO trial or sign up to take part, visit yoursay.gosnells.wa.gov.au/gosfo

Caption – City of Gosnells Mayor Terresa Lynes adds food scraps to a new GOsFO bin, ready to take part in a pilot program to convert waste into high quality fertiliser and protein for animal feed, the first of its kind in Western Australia. (Photo courtesy City of Gosnells)

Caption – Insect larvae will be used to convert food scraps into high quality fertiliser and protein for animal feed, as part of the City of Gosnells GOsFO pilot program. (Photo courtesy Goterra)