You have finished using a bag, food container or piece of cutlery marked “compostable.” Now comes the important question:
Where should you put it?
Compostable products are not all designed for the same disposal environment. Some can break down in a home compost system, while others require the controlled conditions of a commercial composting facility.
Knowing the difference helps prevent contamination and gives the product the best chance of breaking down as intended.
What is home composting?
Home composting uses food scraps, garden waste, moisture, oxygen and microorganisms to create nutrient-rich compost.
A household compost pile or bin generally operates at lower and less consistent temperatures than a commercial facility. Weather, moisture, the size of the compost pile and how regularly it is turned can all affect the process.
Products certified to the Australian home-composting standard AS 5810 are tested for breakdown under conditions that are more representative of home composting.
Even then, composting is not instant. Products need time, moisture, oxygen and active microbial conditions.
What is commercial composting?
Commercial or industrial composting facilities process organic waste under carefully managed conditions.
These facilities can control:
- Temperature
- Moisture
- Oxygen
- Microbial activity
- Processing time
- The size of the composting material
The higher temperatures and controlled environment can process materials that may not break down effectively in a backyard compost bin.
Products certified only for commercial composting should not automatically be placed in home compost.
Can compostable products go into a FOGO bin?
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics.
Many Australian councils provide FOGO bins to divert food and garden material away from landfill. However, the rules about compostable packaging and bin liners vary between councils.
Some accept certified compostable caddy liners. Others allow only council-supplied liners, while some do not accept compostable packaging at all.
Before placing a compostable bag or product in a FOGO bin, check your council’s current guidelines.
Certification confirms that a product meets a compostability standard—it does not automatically mean every local facility will accept it.
What about the recycling bin?
Compostable plastics generally should not be placed in the standard kerbside recycling bin.
They are designed to break down differently from conventional recyclable plastics and can contaminate the recycling stream.
Unless your local recycling provider gives specific instructions otherwise, keep compostable products out of the yellow-lidded recycling bin.
Choosing the right Bonnie Bio product
Bonnie Bio provides compostable alternatives for a variety of household, workplace and commercial applications.
Product pages include information about the materials, sizes and relevant compostability standards, helping you select the right option for your needs.
Before disposal:
- Read the product instructions.
- Check whether it is home or commercially compostable.
- Confirm what your council or waste provider accepts.
- Remove any non-compostable labels, ties or contents.
- Place it in the appropriate waste stream.
Good products need good disposal habits
Switching to compostable products is an important step, but the disposal process is just as important as the product itself.
When consumers, businesses, councils and composting facilities work together, compostable alternatives can help support the movement of suitable organic waste away from landfill.
The next time you see the word compostable, look a little closer. Understanding where the product belongs helps turn a positive intention into a more meaningful environmental outcome.
