ACT Labor has pledged to establish a city-wide food waste collection service in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs if it is re-elected.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the service was expected to create up to 200 new jobs and cut the ACT's emissions from the waste sector by about 30 per cent.
"This is a further important response to climate change which will support the reduction in emissions without putting financial pressure on Canberra households," Mr Barr said.
"This program will ensure that we continue to create new jobs and uphold our commitment to take further action on climate change."
The proposed scheme would allow Canberrans to put food waste into their green bins along with garden waste.
The scheme would be piloted in a variety of households in 2021. A universal green bin scheme would be rolled out by 2023.
Under the proposal, kitchen caddies and compostable bin liners would be provided to all homes.
Labor has also committed to build a new large scale in-vessel processing facility to turn food and garden waste into compost.
It is unknown how much the scheme would cost.
The current green bin service for garden waste is provided on an opt-in basis in the ACT with a $50 registration fee for those without a concession card.
Mr Barr said 37 per cent of the contents of ACT residential garbage bins was food waste which goes to landfill.
