Welcome to the Australian Local Food System Policy Database. This is a collection of policies from New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian local governments that relate to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems.
For further information about using the database and how it was created see How to use the database. You can search the database by using the fields below. Domain refers to eight broad categories under which various topics are situated. The domains and topics are based on a framework of recommendations for local government action on creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system (also located on the ‘How to use the database’ page linked above).
To cite the database: Reeve B, Carrad A, Rose N, Charlton K & Aguirre-Bielschowsky I (2021) Australian Local Food System Policy Database. Available at: https://law-food-systems.sydney.edu.au/policy-database (access date).
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Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste and Litter Management Strategy 2025 | Technologies exist to process food waste collected by councils from householders into other useful products such as compost or mulch. Those few that are in Victoria are relatively new and have required tenders and contracts to establish. They are predominantly tailored to the collection of food waste from garden waste collection systems. They also require end markets for the end product that is produced. Council is part of a regional contract with another 10 councils, the MWRRG and Veolia Environmental (Veolia) for an organics processing plant in Bulla, Victoria. This plant is able to process food waste. Implementing a food waste recovery system will mean less food waste is sent to landfill and recovered for beneficial use. Introducing a food waste recovery service for Hobsons Bay households that have a garden waste collection service, while retaining the weekly garbage and fortnightly green/ food waste collection schedule may mean an eight per cent increase in the amount of waste being diverted from landfill from 46 per cent (2017-18) to 54 per cent. Introducing this service to all households could increase the amount of waste being diverted from landfill by 16 per cent from 46 per cent (2017-18) to 62 per cent. Waste and Litter Management Strategy 2025 17 If all households used the service and food waste collections were altered to weekly and garbage collections altered to fortnightly, the diversion rate could increase by 20 per cent from 46 per cent (2017-18) to 66 per cent. Introducing food waste recovery services will require further investigation and consideration by Council. This is because Council will need to understand the communities attitudes towards alternating collection schedules and the additional costs required to implement the change. Testing of models and communication methods with the community is an important part of this research. Reducing the size of garbage bins from 120 litre is also likely to mean less food waste is sent to landfill but also contribute to the recovery of more resources such as plastic, paper, and cardboard. This will also require further investigation and consideration by Council. Supporting the commercial sector to implement food waste recovery systems could also contribute to a reduction in greenhouse emissions and avoided landfill. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Hobsons Bay | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Management Strategy 2025 | Waste and Litter Management Strategy goals Goal 1: A Council that addresses food waste Target or Measure • The diversion from landfill rate increases to 66% by 2025 (20% above the 2017-18 level of 46%) • An increase in the number of food waste avoidance and community composting programs/events and participation • An increase in the number of home composting systems provided through Council’s subsidy schemes • The number of actions within the strategy that have been completed | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Hobsons Bay | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | 8. WASTE AND LITTER STRATEGY ACTION PLAN 8.1 Municipal food waste Strategic direction Increase the range of services and programs available to residents to reduce the amount of food waste currently going to landfill. Objectives • f • Introduce a kerbside food and garden waste collection service Increase the number of households composting their food waste • Reduce the percentage of food waste in the waste to landfill stream. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | 8.3 Council service delivery Strategic direction As the central form of household waste diversion, the kerbside collection service will need to address key household wastes, particularly food organics. It will need to be evolved to match product and packaging profiles, the quality requirements of recycling end markets, and changing household types. Objectives • To enable households to reduce the amount of material presented as waste to below 7kg/hh/wk (currently 8.3kg/hh/wk) by 2022. • To increase diversion of material into a broad range of recycling opportunities. • Kerbside recycling diversion to increase to over 60% (currently 45%). Program/Activity Timing 8.3.1 Contracts a Actively evaluate the benefits of regional contracting for garbage services and for the establishment of Advanced Waste and Resource Recovery Technologies b Ensure all waste service contract tenders reflect Australian-excellence in environmental management, including performance targets for diversion, resource recovery, emissions, monitoring and reporting, and that tender evaluation weights sustainability criteria (at least) equal to cost in ‘best value’ assessment. c Investigate utilising a contracted collection service for medium to high density housing, where Council is unable to deliver a kerbside collection service. d Seek to identify a sorting facility that can take mixed street waste to sort and divert the recyclable component. 8.3.2 Procurement a b Review Council’s procurement policy and practice to increase the purchase of materials with recycled content to support strong market destinations for the materials Council collect and recycle Amend Council technical notes to ensure officers have the ability to select products with high recycled content. 2021/22 Responsibility Waste Services (lead) ESD and Procurement 2021/22 Waste Services (lead) ESD and Procurement 2021/22 Waste Services (lead) ESD and Procurement 2020/21 2018/19 – Ongoing Street Cleansing Procurement (lead) with ESD support Capital Works planning and Budget required Within existing budget Measure Within existing budget Within existing budget TBC for implementation Est $100,000 p.a. (OPEX budget bid in 2020/21) Within existing budget Within existing budget Review through tender process 38 delivery Urban Design 8.3.3 Monitoring a Continue to audit all kerbside waste services to measure composition, resource loss and potential for diversion | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | A key priority for reducing waste to landfill will be a focus on food waste and the collection service for food organics in the green waste bin. Food is the largest component of the garbage bin, making up 52% and its diversion will have a profound impact on garbage generation. Council will introduce food organics into the green waste collection at the earliest opportunity. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | A trial will begin in late 2018 of food waste collection in the green waste bin. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Activating the community to reduce emissions – has a target for 70% of the municipality to receive a kerbside food waste collection service by 2020. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Become a ‘Plastic Wise’ Council by banning all disposable items at Council festivals and events. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Community composting hubs assist people who are unable to compost their food waste at home. Moreland residents can register to use a community composting hub where they can take their food waste for composting. Hubs are located at community gardens where the composted material is used to grow food. Council will continue to support community gardens to establish community composting hubs with low-tech, low-cost interventions as opportunities arise. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council facilities and community events a Refer to 8.2.1 employ a behaviour change officer to develop, deliver and embed sustainable policy and practice including: • Eliminate single use plastics and balloons from Council festivals and other sponsored events. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council is committed to supporting at-home composting through subsidising the purchase and delivery costs of composting equipment along with the provision of composting education programs delivered by people passionate about food and gardening, to help householders save money by reducing food waste sent to landfill. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council will add its voice to those advocating for better product design and manufacture to enable more sustainable purchasing. A key aspect of this is brand owners contributing to end-of-life product stewardship through extended producer responsibility programs and funding. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council will also increase its work with the community to provide information to households and retailers about how they can reduce the amount of food waste and to deal with food organics at a household level with on-site composting. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council will continue to review its recycling and waste collection charges and will work with small businesses, particularly retail traders, to divert recyclables. Alongside Council services, Council will also encourage commercial site take up of specific recycling services for materials such as soft plastics, coffee grounds and food. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council will expand recycling and reuse opportunities for products and packaging across household and commercial sites in Moreland. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Council will work to continue to eliminate single use plastics from council festivals and events. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Education through schools and early years a Expand support for schools, early learning centres (ELC) and kindergartens to increase student and school community participation in waste-related sustainability learning and behaviour. • Support an expanded range of sustainability incursion and excursion options. • Increase support for participation in ResourceSmart Schools program 8.2.4 Infrastructure/services enhancement a b Support commercial site take up of specific non-council recycling services for materials such as soft plastics and coffee grounds. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Food rescue agencies will also be promoted to match Councils social and environmental objectives by ensuring food suitable for human consumption doesn’t go to waste. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | In addition, a further 10,100 tonnes of garden organics was recycled through the kerbside organics collection. Currently 55% of households contribute to this collection.20 | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | introduction of food waste into the green waste bin this diversion rate could exceed 70% with full participation in the service. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Investigate amendment to the General Local Law to enable enforcement of the single use plastics ban.* | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan 2016 – developed as one of seven Regional Implementation Plans. The Plan covers Melbourne’s Metropolitan region and focuses on four strategic objectives: to reduce waste to landfill; to increase organic waste recovery; to deliver community, environmental and economic benefits and to plan for Melbourne’s growing population. No new landfills have been planned for metropolitan Melbourne and will only be recommended if absolutely necessary, after a 2019 review of the Plan. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Objectives • Aim for zero waste to landfill by 2030. • In the shorter term to achieve 60% waste diversion (recycling and organic waste) by 2022. • To be a leading council in sustainable waste management and the best in the North of Melbourne by 2022. Program/Activity Timing 8.2.1 Behaviour change a Establish capacity to develop and deliver behaviour change programs using best practice methodology to target key waste/resource recovery issues. • Employ a behaviour change officer to support program and campaign delivery • Carry out research to inform the development of Moreland Zero Waste behaviour change program and sub-campaigns. • Design, deliver and refine targeted campaigns (to specific audiences) across the municipality. • Reduce recycling bin contamination through the review and enhancement of the Bin Inspection Program. • Work with the Communications team to utilise Council’s communication channels for mass media and social marketing campaigns. * • Run/mobilise a volunteer community waste champion initiative – may involve waste champions at festivals and events. * | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | One aspect that Council will advocate for is the release of funding from the Sustainability Fund. There are currently hundreds of millions of dollars in reserves that have come from the landfill levy, and these should be substantially returned to councils and others for well-planned waste and litter reduction programs addressing food waste, electronic waste recovery, and expanded recycling opportunities. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Optimal design for waste management would include space to manage food waste on site. Many residents find once they move into a medium to high density dwelling that there is no space available to put a compost bin. Sufficient space must also be allocated for future change in waste management needs, particularly in relation to the introduction of kerbside food waste collections via the green waste bin. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Plastic Wise policy. This will see the elimination of single use plastics from Council festivals and other sponsored events. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Program/Activity 8.1.1 Kerbside food waste collection a Undertake a trial prior to establishing a kerbside food waste collection service for residential properties through the green waste service. Determine service model (opt-in or universal) and costs for roll out across the municipality. • Trial and evaluate • Initiate roll out • Ongoing monitoring to refine service b Employ Food and Organics Program Lead Officer to: • Evaluate food waste trial and undertake cost / benefit to inform service model for municipal-wide service roll out (including potential phasing); • Coordinate service roll-out including intensive community engagement and education; • Support or establish a food waste avoidance program and deliver other food waste related projects; • Investigate opportunities to facilitate and/or pilot complementary organic waste recycling services or infrastructure/facilities (eg in-vessel composting) with a particular focus on food businesses, residents and Timing Responsibility Budget required 2018/19 2019/20 to 2021/22 2020/21 to 2021/22 2018/19 to 2020/21 2020/21 2020/21 to 2021/22 2020/21 to 2021/22 Waste Services (lead) with ESD and Communications support Trial – $100,000 (within existing budget) Roll out – est $6,000,000 (full universal, cost recovery via waste charge) ESD (lead) with Waste Services support Up to $120,000 salary (inc oncosts) plus $70,000 – $100,000 p.a. for program development, pilots and delivery (OPEX budget bid) Approx. $100,000 (OPEX budget bid 21/22 for infrastructure pilot) Additional position created/filled and uptake of kerbside food waste service. Feasible options available to medium-size food waste generators. Measure Reduction in volume of food waste to landfill 33 organisations that are not able to access municipal waste services (e.g. businesses and multi-unit developments).* • Provide education and support to residents at MUDs to improve waste management and increase resource recovery. 8.1.2 Reduce food waste and increase composting a Promote and support residential composting and food waste avoidance programs. • Continue to provide a service to subsidise home composting equipment and education. • Continue to support existing Community Composting Hubs for people unable to compost at home. • Establish new hubs at community gardens as opportunities arise. • Increase promotion of Share Waste. * These actions have previously been endorsed by Council 2021/22 ESD Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Within existing budget Within existing budget Within existing budget Within existing budget Reduction in volume of household food waste generated | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | reduce the carbon impact of landfills from methane generation | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | Review the Commercial Plus service to consider options for: • Small businesses, particularly retail traders, to divert recyclables and potentially food waste. • A fee for service option for those residents not captured by a waste charge e.g. multi-unit developments and apartments. d Investigate ways to actively reduce private waste collection referrals and provide ways to encourage body corporates to adopt Council waste, recycling and organics collection services. | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |
| Waste and Litter Strategy 2018 | The introduction of a food waste collection service | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | Victoria | Moreland | Metropolitan |