Community Composting Program

Composting Rebate Program

Composting is an easy way to reduce organic waste to landfill which helps save money, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and protect the natural environment. It is simple to set up and gives back by producing nutrient rich materials (soil and fertiliser) for your garden.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council is making it more affordable to compost kitchen scraps and organic material at home through the Composting Rebate Program. The program provides eligible Cassowary Coast residents with a $20 rebate for the purchase of compost or worm-farm equipment.

Compost Rebate Application Form

How to make a claim

To claim your $20 Rebate for compost bin or worm-farm you will need to provide Council Customer Service with:

  1. Completed Community Compost Program Application Form
  2. Tax invoice/receipt for compost bin or worm farm
  3. Proof of residency e.g. rates notice, driver’s license, bill with address

Return the completed Community Compost Application form, tax invoice and proof of residency to Council via:

Council will arrange a bank transfer to your nominated account. Please note the amount of time taken to receive the bank transfer is dependent on your nominated bank.  

Along with the $20 rebate, you will also receive a Guide To Composting Brochure with information, tips and hints on how to get started with composting in your backyard.

Eligibility, Terms and Conditions. 

  • Eligible for residents of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council local government area.  
  • Rebate available for any compost bin or worm-farm purchased after 12 October 2015.
  • Only one rebate is available per household.
  • Valid tax invoice must be provided. EFTPOS receipts are not acceptable as proof of purchase.
  • If the purchase price of the compost bin or worm farm is less than $20, the rebate will be for the purchase price of the compost bin or worm farm.
  • The rebate is not available for materials to build a DIY composting or worm farming system.

Choosing a Composting Method 

When it comes to recycling organic waste, there are plenty of options to suit all lifestyles, from your traditional garden stationary composting bin to an indoor composter for apartments.

 

More Information 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Residents can purchase a second hand system, to make a claim they will need to provide a valid tax invoice with purchase date and item. Please note that EFTPOS receipts are not acceptable as proof of purchase.

  • Is every resident of my home eligible for the rebate?

    No. There is one rebate per household. The rebate is linked to the address and not the individual resident.

  • No. You must live at the home to claim the rebate. You can be a tenant or owner. Landlords are not eligible to claim a rebate for rental properties.

  • The rebate will total $20. If the purchase price of the compost bin or worm farm is less than $20, the rebate will be for the purchase price of the compost bin or worm farm.

  • No. The rebate is not available for materials to build a DIY composting or worm farming system.

  • You must provide a copy of the receipt or proof of purchase which includes the date and an itemised list of the eligible product. A rebate will not be provided without a valid receipt.

    If you have lost your receipt, you may be able to contact the supplier and ask if the receipt can be reissued.

  • Yes. Your compost bin, worm farm or bokashi or similar composting system can be purchased online, however, postage costs are not eligible as part of your rebate claim.

    Consider supporting a small, local, Cassowary Coast-based business when purchasing your compost system.

  • Composting organic matter is an aerobic process that reduces the production and release of methane.

    When organic matter is disposed into landfill, oxygen is absent which results in an anaerobic fermentation. This breakdown process attracts species of microbes that produce methane.

    Methane (Ch4) is a greenhouse gas that has the capacity to hold over 20 times more heat than Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

    The aerobic process of composting, where oxygen is present, does not attract methane producing microbes and therefore reduces the production of greenhouse gases. Rotating or mixing compost adds oxygen to the heap, thereby activating aerobic process of decomposition. Composting practices that maximise aerobic conditions will be most effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Click on the links below to find out more about Waste Managment:

In this section