The City of Melbourne encourages restaurants, cafés and other businesses dealing with food to recycle food waste. The City of Melbourne however, does not provide a food recycling service.
Food waste makes up the largest proportion of waste in our landfills. Food waste is also one of the most harmful to the environment. Organic waste such as food produces methane as it breaks down. Methane is 20 times as powerful a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide, so recycling food waste is a great way to take personal action against climate change.
Recycled food organics are composted to produce a valuable soil conditioner product to improve the health and productivity of our soils.
KS Environmental
KS Environmental provides a recycling collection service for food waste, using 120 litre or 240 litre mobile garbage bins.
Phone: (03) 9551 7833
Email: sales@ksenvironmental.com.au
Surplus food
There are also organisations that collect surplus food for human consumption. Collectors that provide this service within the City of Melbourne include:
SecondBite
SecondBite sources surplus food from Melbourne markets, retailers, events, caterers and restaurants. The organisation delivers it to over 110 food relief agencies that provide meals to homeless and disadvantaged people.
Phone: (03) 9376 3800
Email: emily@secondbite.org Volunteer and Administration Coordinator
FareShare
FareShare, is a not-for-profit organisation, rescuing food to fight hunger. It collects quality food that would otherwise be wasted from Melbourne businesses such as food wholesalers, retailers and caterers. Volunteers in FareShare's kitchen use this food to prepare healthy, nutritous meals that they distribute to over 100 charities providing emergency food relief for the hungry and homeless.
Phone: (03) 94280044
Email: kath.cotter@fareshare.net.au