Glen Innes Severn Council plans to introduce a food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection service. This initiative aligns with the NSW Government’s objectives to reduce organic waste sent to landfill by 50% and achieve net-zero emissions from landfill organics by 2030.
In April 2024, Glen Innes Severn Council received $145,500 through the NSW Government’s FOGO grants program. This funding will assist the Council in implementing the FOGO service which will be part of its broader long-term Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy.
This year, the Council will undertake a study to explore waste and resource recovery options. Mayor Margot Davis emphasised the significance of the study and the FOGO service in advancing the region’s broader sustainability objectives. “Given the volume of green waste generated by the recent weekend storm, it highlights the urgent need for a more sustainable system to manage and reduce this waste moving forward,” she said.
Community input will be at the heart of the final strategy. The council will offer multiple opportunities for consultation and looks forward to collaborating with residents and businesses to create a plan tailored to the community’s needs.
What does a FOGO service look like?
FOGO is a curbside collection service that lets you dispose of food scraps into a garden waste bin for recycling into high-quality compost. Despite its benefits, only about 30% of Australian households currently have access to FOGO services. Glen Innes Severn Council is aiming for a rollout to occur in 2027.
Why Is FOGO Important?
Australians discard 7.3 million tonnes of food annually – that’s roughly 300kg per person. Combined with garden waste like grass clippings and timber, around half of the contents in an average bin are organic material. In landfills, this decomposes to produce methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
The Value of Organic Waste
Farmers have long recognised the worth of organic waste. By recycling it, we not only reduce landfill volume but also return nutrients to the soil through compost. FOGO services transform food and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost for use on farms, in parks, and as fertiliser.
How does it work?
FOGO waste is collected and sent to composting facilities for industrial processing. After contamination is removed, it is rapidly composted at high temperatures to create a nutrient-rich product. Unlike home composting, FOGO systems can handle items like meat, fish, and compostable packaging that require high temperatures to break down. They also process larger materials like cardboard and branches, which might take too long to decompose at home.
More information about the FOGO initiative is available at: Food Organics and Garden Organics
For more details about the NSW Government’s Go FOGO grants program, visit: NSW EPA Go FOGO Grants.
