Spring is in full swing and treating us with sunny days. But warmer temperatures can make your food waste decompose faster inside the kerbside bin and kitchen caddy. 

There are a few simple actions you can take to prevent your food and garden organics from smelling: 

• Store your caddy and bin out of direct sunlight where possible
• Keep your bin lid and caddy lid closed 
• Use the compostable liners provided with your kitchen caddy and replace the liners regularly. Alternatively, you can find liners with the AS 4736 certification and seedling logo at your local supermarket and other outlets
• Avoid excess moisture in your caddy and kerbside bin. Stale bread, food-soiled paper or old newspaper can help absorb some liquid from food waste 
• Freeze or refrigerate smelly food waste such as meat in an airtight container and place it in your food and garden organics bin on the day of collection 
• Layer your food waste with garden waste in your bin
• Wash your kitchen caddy and bin regularly with water (avoid chemicals) and add some lemon juice or tea tree oil to help reduce odour 

It is important to keep diverting food waste from landfill. The average household bin in Whitehorse is 48 per cent organic waste. This waste ends up in landfill, which produces methane gas, odour and contributes to climate change. 

Find out more about food and garden organics.