Turn your food scraps into soil and clean energy

24 Sep 2025
Campus & Culture
Edition 18 2025
Food waste bins

Your kitchenette now has a food waste caddy to help you divert food waste from landfill.

Since May, green food waste caddies have been placed in UNSW staff kitchenettes across Kensington and Paddington campuses. 

Why does separating food waste matter?​

When food waste is placed in the red bin (general waste), it ends up in landfill, where it breaks down and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Each tonne of food waste in landfill generates up to 2.1 tonnes of CO₂-e, significantly contributing to climate change.​

By using the green food waste caddy, your scraps are recycled into nutrient-rich compost and energy at EarthPower.​

This simple action helps UNSW reduce emissions, support a circular economy and meet the NSW EPA Food Organics Mandate requirements.​ Since January 2025, UNSW has diverted 78 tonnes of food waste from landfill, saving 164 t CO₂-e of emissions entering the atmosphere.

What can and can’t go in the food waste caddy?

Use the food waste caddy for:​

  • fruit and vegetable scraps​
  • food leftovers (without packaging)​
  • coffee grounds​
  • meat and dairy scraps.​

Don’t use the food waste caddy for:

  • packaging (even compostable or bioplastic)​
  • napkins, tissues and paper towels​
  • tea bags, cups, lids and cutlery​
  • soft plastics.​

Place the above items in the red bin to avoid contamination.

Make food waste recycling part of your routine​

Follow these tips to help separate food waste:

  • Use the green caddy in your kitchenette to dispose of food scraps and coffee grounds.​
  • Share this story with your colleagues to get them onboard and display this poster in your kitchenette to increase the caddy’s visibility.
  • During office events, remember to collect inedible food leftovers in the food waste caddies.​
  • Missing a caddy for your office kitchen? Help us close the gap and request one by submitting an Archibus request using problem type ‘Furniture Relocations’ with your kitchenette location details or contact EM Helpdesk at estate@unsw.edu.aufor any assistance. 

 

(Photo top: Libby Stratford, Chief Financial Officer, using the food waste caddy and helping to divert food waste from landfill)

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