Organics Collection Service - City of Moreton Bay

Organics Collection Service - City of Moreton Bay is a Source Separated Organic Waste project located within the City of Moreton Bay Local Government Area, immediately north of Brisbane in Queensland. Registered in October 2023, the project encompasses a large-scale municipal waste diversion initiative targeting residential households across the region. The primary activity involves the rollout of a new "Garden Organics" (GO) kerbside collection service, distinguished by lime-green lidded bins, which began its physical service commencement in December 2024. The council plans to transition this service into a full Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) stream in a future second stage, once sufficient local processing infrastructure is secured.

The Source Separated Organic Waste methodology credits projects for diverting eligible organic material, such as garden clippings and eventually food scraps, away from landfill. By separating this waste at the point of generation and processing it through composting or anaerobic digestion, the project prevents the generation of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that would otherwise be released during anaerobic decomposition in a landfill. The carbon credits (ACCUs) generated represent the avoided emissions calculated against a business-as-usual baseline where this organic material enters the general waste stream.

The Moreton Bay region is characterized by a subtropical climate with generally high rainfall, particularly in coastal areas. The region's geography is diverse, featuring low-lying coastal plains often associated with sandy or acid sulfate soils, transitioning to hinterland areas dominated by clays and loams (such as Vertosols). While the waste collection occurs primarily in urban and peri-urban residential zones, the broader region supports land uses including grazing, forestry, and nature conservation.

An interesting aspect of this project is its scale and strategic intent; it involves the distribution of approximately 120,000 bins and aims to lift the city's recycling rate from 45% to over 60%. The project aligns with the council's "Going Green as We Grow" mantra, adopted following its reclassification from a Regional Council to the "City of Moreton Bay" to reflect its growing population and urban significance.