FOGO makes an impact in first year

Published on 09 November 2020

One year on from the introduction of a food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection service, an additional 500 tonnes of organic waste has been diverted from landfill.

But there is still plenty of room for improvement as residents and businesses make the most of the fortnightly kerbside collection service.

An audit of kerbside waste prior to the introduction of FOGO in November 2019 showed that food waste made up more than half of household general waste. The average household was contributing more than 200 kilograms of food to landfill each year.

“The introduction of a FOGO collection last year was a major milestone in our city’s war on waste and our goal achieve zero waste to landfill by 2030,” Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said.

“We’ve found that the amount of general household waste to landfill has reduced as a result of FOGO, but there is probably still a lot of organic waste that is missing out on the FOGO treatment.”

City Infrastructure Committee Chair Bill Harvey said FOGO was different to the average backyard compost bin in that it could take items that were more difficult to break down.

“Things like bones, meat, dairy, citrus and processed foods can all be put into FOGO,” Cr Harvey said. “Other non-food organic materials can also go in: compostable packaging, paper towels and tissues, coffee grounds and even pet hair can be accepted.” 

The total 3500 tonnes of FOGO collected in the past year (including garden waste) has saved an estimated 4729 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and contributes to a 61 per cent reduction in waste to landfill since 2010.

Organic materials collected from FOGO bins are delivered to a commercial organics treatment facility, where it is transformed into a quality compost that meets Australian standards.

While contamination of FOGO bins has been minimal, the occasional non-organic item has found its way into the service – the main offender being plastic bags.

“It’s particularly important not to use a plastic bin liner for your food scraps,” Cr Harvey said. “Either put them in loose or use newspaper or a certified compostable bag – not just biodegradable.”

To be compatible, bags should be certified under one of the following standards: AS 5810, AS 4736, ASTM D6400, and EN13432.

Hobart City residents and businesses that don’t already have a FOGO service can opt in via the City of Hobart website or by phoning 03 6278 0273. Additional charges apply.

For more information on FOGO, visit hobartcity.com.au/FOGO.