New Research Summary: South Australia Is Successfully Composting Food Waste and Compostable Packaging

A new research study in South Australia shows that composting food waste and compostable packaging via council provided kerbside FOGO bins is a viable and effective waste management solution.

At BioPak, we’ve often referred to South Australia as the trailblazing state – leading the way with composting initiatives, public education campaigns and organic waste disposal. 

However, the state’s impressive efforts (like Rundle Mall’s green bin trial or kerbside FOGO bins accepting compostable packaging) have had minimal research to reflect their positive impacts. 

But finally, new research out of South Australia has emerged to understand better the role compostable packaging plays in organic waste recovery. 

The results are largely positive for the organics recycling sector in South Australia and beyond. The research found the organic recovery system in South Australia is capable of increasing its volume, and that certified compostable packaging has had no documented negative effects on the quality of the end product (potential negative effects of compostable packaging is often an argument used with no substantial proof). 

Supported by BioPak, the research was a collaboration between Compost Connect and Edge Impact. Several leading organisations (like the Australian Organics Recycling Association) expressed a keen interest in the study, too. 

Dr Thava Palanisami, Associate Professor from the University of Newcastle, stated that "this report is an excellent step in the right direction, showcasing that composting food waste and compostable packaging is a viable option."

So let’s explore the research report's key objectives, methodology, insights and findings, and our key takeaways.

Compared with the rest of Australia, South Australia is leading the composting charge. They’ve already established systems, policies and infrastructure to deal with a large volume of food organics and garden organics (FOGO). Jeffries, a leading commercial compost facility, is noted for its advanced recycling technologies and collection partnerships, which have the potential to be replicated at a national and global level.

With South Australia as our case study, the primary objective was to understand compostable packaging recovery outcomes, success factors, and the impact of compostable packaging on improving food waste and packaging diversion. 

This was broken down into three key objectives, defined in the report. 

1. Performance and end-of-life outcomes – the impact that compostable packaging has on organics and packaging waste diversion.
2. Organics pathways and processing – investigate the processes, techniques and infrastructure to understand barriers and enablers to outcomes.
3. Key factors influencing outcomes – identify the key factors that influence these recovery outcomes, like standards, government policy, certifications and education.

There were three project phases, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data.

Phase 1: Desktop Research 

We gathered all publicly available data, like tonnage of compostable packaging versus food waste, composting processes, and contamination levels in FOGO bins in residential and public spaces (like Rundle Mall).

Phase 2: Engagement & Further Investigation 

We spoke with leading stakeholders to address gaps in knowledge and provide more information. We spoke with organisations like the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Australian Bioplastics Association (ABA) and Green Industries South Australia. 

Phase 3: Insight Summary & Reporting 

We gathered all the qualitative and quantitative data ready for analysis. We identified key findings and insights.

While there are still some challenges to overcome, the key findings of the report were largely positive – pointing to the success of South Australia’s organics recovery system.

We’ve summarised 7 key findings here. 

• Compostable Packaging Has No Documented Negative Effects

• A Successful Organics Recovery System

• Government-Led Initiatives and Policy Are Effective

• Enforcement and Industry Collaboration Prevents Contamination

• Public Education on Composting Technology

• There Are Challenges in Compostable Packaging Identification

• Contamination and Technology Challenges 

Excitingly, this research highlights the major role compostable packaging can play in organic waste recovery. Certified compostable packaging was found to have no documented negative effects on the quality of the end product – compost.

Not only that, compostable packaging acts as a vehicle to curb food waste. It simplifies organic waste collection, as both food scraps and used packaging can be disposed of in the same bin. This, in turn, will divert food waste from landfill and instead turn it into an incredibly valuable product – compost. 

Although there’s still work to be done to reduce contamination and ensure organic waste and packaging end up in the right place – South Australia’s research demonstrates the effectiveness of public education campaigns and action on a government level. This provides a promising pathway forward. 

Finally, this research serves as inspiration for other states, territories and countries around the world, highlighting the potential for large-scale composting initiatives to address our organic waste problem and create a nutrient-rich resource instead.