Testing the case for co-collecting food and garden waste was on the ACT government's radar 16 years before it rolled out a green bins service in the capital.
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Between 2000 and 2001 Chifley residents took part in a 10-month trial to determine the viability of separately collecting food and kitchen wastes from the residual garbage stream and reduce the frequency of residual waste collections.
One thousand residences were provided with a combined organics bins that were processed by Corkhill Brothers - the same contractor involved in the government's current green bins roll out.
The average tonnages collected weekly over the 10-month trial was 3.7 tonnes or 4.3 kilograms, including garden organics, per household per week.
Residents involved in the trial had their organics bins stolen, some called with complaints about odour and 30 residents called to express their disappointment when the trial finished.
City Services Minister Meegan Fitzharris said collecting and processing mixed food and garden waste was more expensive than garden waste alone.
"The ACT government looked at a number of options for suitable technology for reprocessing collected domestic waste, but found that most of these technologies were still being developed," she said.
"As a result, the ACT government of the time decided to wait and continue to monitor evolving technologies and trends elsewhere, to identify the best future option for recovering household waste from Canberra residences."
However, more than 25 NSW councils have successfully implemented a combined food and green waste bin service and have reported the scheme delivers financial, practical and environmental benefit.
Lake Macquarie Council adopted a food green bin service in 2015 and estimated the scheme would save the council $4 million over 10 years and extend the lifespan of the landfill site.
Ms Fitzharris would not detail whether a cost assessment of a food and green waste scheme had been conducted since the 2001 trial, but reiterated the government's interest in the scheme.
"Food waste collection is a complex undertaking, and it is being considered as part of waste management in the ACT more broadly," she said.
"The green waste collection services has been costed at this stage. A mixed food organic waste collection service will be considered."
