Paper bags for food recycling

You can now pick up paper bags for free from the front desk at any Council+ location, including all Hobsons Bay libraries and the Altona Civic Centre.

In Hobsons Bay, you can recycle food waste and garden waste in your light green bin.  Learn more about your food and garden bin here.

Use our FREE paper bag bin liners to keep your food scraps contained.

Council’s paper bags are designed to fit perfectly in your Council-issued kitchen caddy.

You can pick up paper bags for free from the front desk at any Council+ location, which includes all Hobsons Bay libraries and the Altona Civic Centre. Residents can collect a maximum of two packs of paper bags per day. Click here to see our Council+ locations. 

How to use the Hobsons Bay issued paper bags

 

Line your compost caddy 

  1. Insert bag into your caddy.
  2. To shape the bag to fit the caddy, once inside, push out the sides and flatten the bottom.
  3. Add food waste.
  4. Roll-close the top, take caddy to the food and garden organics bin and tip in. 

Wrap your food scraps 

  1. Collect scraps in any lidded container.
  2. Drain accumulated liquid, then transfer scraps to the paper bag.
  3. Roll-close the top, then place bag in food and garden organics bin.

Paper bag FAQs

How does it work?

When food breaks down it releases gases, which can have unpleasant smells, particularly when there is low oxygen in your Food and Garden bin. You can add more air flow to your by adding carbon-rich ‘dry’ ingredients such as dry grass clippings, dry leaves, straw, or paper. By bagging or wrapping your food in our paper bags, you are adding more carbon-rich materials to the bin, which helps balance out the odours. 

 

Can I only use the Hobsons Bay bags for my food scraps?

Our paper compost bags have been designed with input from our composting partner Veolia. During a successful trial with over 4000 residents they were found to work well for residents and for our composting facility. Other bags may cause issues in the composting process. Our heavy-weight paper bags are also 3 times cheaper than similar paper bags you can purchase. 

Can I use biodegradable plastic bags instead?

'Compostable' or biodegradable plastic bags don't break down in our composting facility, and can get caught in the machinery, so unfortunately we can’t accept them in the Food and Garden bin. This is why our compost bags are made of paper, which means they are home compostable too. Remember to keep all plastic bags out of the Food and Garden bin - even biodegradable ones. 

 

           

How to use the food and garden bin like a pro

Here are some more tips to reduce odours and mess when using the food and garden bin. 

  • Line your caddy with paper bags and your wheelie bin with paper towel, newspaper or garden clippings.

  • Save your grass clippings and dried leaves - put a generous layer of these in your bin on top of your food scraps.

  • Rinse your food and garden bin and caddy regularly and keep them closed when they have scraps in them.  

  • Shade your food and garden bin in hot weather - keeping it in a cool spot will help deter flies and other bugs.

  • Freeze or refrigerate your smelliest scraps such as meat and seafood and then pop them in the bin on bin night. You can even keep your caddy in the fridge or freezer.
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