FOGO and compost
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics.
Under the FOGO service, all types of organic materials can go in the bright green lidded bin. This includes organic materials from food scraps to lawn clippings.
The City of Hobart has introduced FOGO bins into the community. This is part of our commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainability. Our FOGO public place bins are currently located at the following sites:
- Legacy Park, Soldiers Memorial Oval and Domain Athletics Centre (Queens Domain)
- Darcy St Park (South Hobart)
- John Turnbull dog exercise area (Lenah Valley)
- Cornelian Bay (New Town)
- The Springs (Fern Tree)
How to use your FOGO bin
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why was a FOGO service introduced?
Roughly 50 per cent of the average household rubbish bin in Hobart is food and a further 10 per cent is garden waste.
By collecting this organic material, we can compost it into nutrient rich soil. This reduces waste to landfill and the release of greenhouse gas emissions. The compost is later used within agriculture and horticulture. By 'closing the loop,' it helps us move towards our aim of zero waste to landfill by 2030.
FOGO has the potential to turn up to 4000 tonnes of waste into compost rather than landfill.
What goes in my FOGO bin?
| Put in |
Don't put in |
| ✔ Cooked and uncooked food scraps |
✖ Plastics and plastic bag and liners without composting certification* |
| ✔ Leftovers |
✖ Food packaging |
| ✔ Dairy products |
✖ Fruit stickers |
| ✔ Meat and bones |
✖ Liquids (for example, cooking oil) |
| ✔ Egg shells |
✖ Baby wipes and makeup removal wipes |
| ✔ Coffee grounds and tea leaves |
✖ Metals |
| ✔ Soiled paper and cardboard |
✖ Treated timber and building materials |
| ✔ Paper towel and tissues |
✖ Rocks, concrete and ceramics |
| ✔ Grass clippings |
✖ Treated or painted timber, laminates and MDF |
| ✔ Weeds |
✖ Textiles |
| ✔ Small branches (no larger than 10cm diameter) |
✖ Large branches and stumps |
| ✔ Pet poo and cat litter (organic) |
✖ Other animal droppings |
| ✔ Compostable cups, plates and cutlery* |
✖ Dead animals |
| ✔ Certified compostable bags* |
✖ General waste or recycling |
| ✔ Certified compostable nappies* |
|
*Compostable bioplastic products that have one of the following certifications can go in your FOGO bin:
- AS 5810
- AS 4736
- ASTM D6400
- EN13432.
Look for a label on the product or ask your supplier for certification.
Bags and serving-ware (for example, plates and cutlery) made from natural fibres can go in your FOGO bin. This includes wood, paper, bagasse and cardboard.
Can I use bin liners?
To reduce the risk of contamination, it's preferred that FOGO users put their scraps in loose.
Residents can use a piece of paper towel or newspaper to line their kitchen caddy.
If compostable bioplastic liner is used, then it must have one of the following certifications:
- AS 5810
- AS 4736
- ASTM D6400
- EN13432.
What to do if my bin smells?
To help reduce odours from your FOGO bin, you can:
- freeze fish and meat waste and put in your FOGO bin the morning of collection
- make a kitchen caddy liner from newspaper by following these newspaper liner instructions(PDF, 124KB)
- use a sprinkling of bicarbonate soda to deodorise your bin
- layer your food waste with garden waste such as lawn clippings and leaf litter
- rinse your bin out and let it dry completely
- keep your bin in the shade if possible.
How can I change my FOGO bin collection?
You can change your FOGO bin collection to weekly or fortnightly, or cancel it completely. For more information please see the bin requests and enquiries page.
Composting at home
Learn how to compost at home with the free booklet Home Composting in Hobart.
We released this booklet as part of our efforts to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030.
It provides strategies and techniques for composting food waste. Topics covered include:
- worm farms
- keeping chooks
- common composting problems
- building a no-dig garden.
Home Composting in Hobart(PDF, 3MB)
These three flyers also provide handy tips:
Produced by Good Life Permaculture, with illustrations by local artist Rachel Tribout.
Compost and mulch sales
We sell our compost and mulch at The Tip. Please note that delivery is not available.
For general and bulk compost inquiries call 0429 803 135 - Monday to Friday between 7.30 am and 4 pm.
For weekend enquiries call the tollbooth on 03 6238 2581.
For all fees and charges please refer to our fees and charges page.