City of Gold Coast multi-unit dwellings food organics diversion trial
The Queensland Government provided funding to the City of Gold Coast to undertake a food organic (FO) collection trial from high and medium density buildings known as multi-unit dwellings (MUDs). The purpose was to understand the requirements for fit-for-purpose solutions to improve diversion of household organic waste from landfill.
The trial was designed to inform the City of Gold Coast and other local governments to understand food organics collection service challenges for high and medium density buildings/MUDs, and generate valuable, Queensland-focused data.
The trial occurred over six-months from May to October 2024 and involved:
- 7 buildings with differing sizes and levels
- 98 household participants
- an opt-in service
- the use of caddies and caddy liners used for collection in the home
- collection via traditional kerbside collection methods.
The residential MUD trial identified barriers and opportunities for rolling out a traditional food organic waste collection service, where the organic waste is collected in dedicated bins and regularly collected by a waste truck.
To support the trial, behavioural surveys and waste composition audits were conducted before, during and after the trial and provided key insights and learnings to inform local governments and future trials. The Food organics service trial in multi-unit dwellings case study 3.7 MB) provides the full report on the trial results and identifies several key findings for consideration in delivering a food organics collection service for these types of buildings.
The trial was delivered by the City of Gold Coast Council.