The Mother City’s successful Home Composting Programme is expanding, with Fish Hoek and Kuils River next on the list to receive free compost bins this October.
The City has already handed out free compost bins in Edgemead, Plumstead, Eerste River and Milnerton, among other areas.
Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management Directorate will host its next in-person collection sessions at the Fish Hoek Civic Centre on 11 October, and Van Riebeeck Hall in Kuils River on 18 October, from 08:00 to 12:00.
Residents who qualify can collect their free composting bin and starter pack on the day.
The programme, which has already reached over 50 000 households, aims to cut the amount of organic waste sent to landfills – a major source of harmful carbon emissions.
By turning kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost, residents are helping reduce Cape Town’s carbon footprint while creating healthier soil for home gardens.
“Cutting down on the amount of organic waste that we allow to reach landfill is a sure way to reduce our carbon footprint as a city,” said Mayco Member for Urban Waste Management, Grant Twigg.
“Composting food waste at home not only reduces the environmental impact of organic waste, but also feeds your soil and results in a healthier, more productive garden.”
Who is entitled to a compost bin?
To qualify, residents must live in single residential properties (sectional title flats are excluded) and have a secure garden or yard.
How to qualify
Application forms will only be available at the collection points during the specified dates and times. Applicants need to bring a copy of their municipal account and ID or passport to the venue.
Each successful applicant will receive a home composting container and an information pack to guide them on how to turn everyday organic waste – such as fruit peels, eggshells, tea bags, and leaves – into usable compost.
Residents who miss their local session can attend any future roll-out, as long as they meet the requirements.
The City says more areas will soon be added to the schedule, as part of its ongoing drive to divert all household waste from landfills by 2027.
