11/11/1999

Your garden could eat around 50% of the rubbish you throw out from your household and provide a better environment for growing your plants.

Yarra Valley Water with Least waste, the Eastern Regional Waste Management Group, made up of the Cities of Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges have released an innovative campaign to encourage people to use food scraps in composting.

Australians throw out 14 million tonnes of rubbish each year, with half of the household garbage being made up of food and garden waste. The majority is able to be mulched or composted.

Cr Bob Beynon, Chairman of Least waste, and Mr Peter Harford, Managing Director of Yarra Valley Water, in a joint statement said "Composting and mulching are a vital part of implementing sensible, cost saving and environmental gardening practices."

“The link between composting to reduce waste collection and gardening, which is an activity enjoyed by 98% of people, was a major environmental win / win strategy.”

Media Enquiries:
Cr. Bob Beynon, Chairman, Least waste (03) 98744633
Mr Peter Harford, Managing Director, Yarra Valley Water (03) 98721301
Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications (03) 98185700