Disposing of fruit and vegetable waste at home
Green waste is managed differently throughout South Australia. There may be additional arrangements for managing green waste in outbreak areas of the state, to prevent the risk of spreading fruit fly.
See the list of restricted fruit and vegetables to understand which produce is at risk.
Composting during an outbreak
If you are in a red outbreak area or a yellow suspension area, you must not compost any fruit or vegetables that are on the restricted produce list.
Composting these items in outbreak zones can allow fruit fly to breed and survive, even in cooler months.
Instead, place any restricted fruit or vegetables in your
- green organics bin (if in a metropolitan Adelaide outbreak area) or
- red waste bin, in line with your local council’s fruit fly disposal guidelines.
Location-specific requirements
Check below how to dispose of green waste in your local area,
Riverland Pest Free Area (PFA)
The PFA includes Lindsay Point which is located just over the Victorian border.
- Double-bag restricted waste in plastic and put it in the red bin.
- Do not compost, bury, or place it in the green bin, as waste may not be processed fast enough to kill fruit flies.
- Do not take it to the waste transfer station.
Elizabeth East
- Put restricted fruit and veg waste in your green (organics) bin.
- If you don’t have a green bin, double-bag the waste in plastic and place it in the red (general waste) bin.
- Do not compost or bury the waste, or take it to a waste transfer station.