FOGO Trial Results
On 25 June 2024, Council determined at their Ordinary Meeting to conclude the FOGO trial that had been in operation since early 2020. Council Meeting Agenda here
The trial was undertaken for the City to gain a better understanding of the level of household interest in waste separation and the overall costs involved with the kerbside collection of FOGO waste as waste modelling suggested up to 40% of rubbish in residents’ bins was organic.
The trial involved 500 randomly selected residential properties from across the City who were delivered a free 240litre, lime green lidded rubbish bin for the weekly collection of all FOGO waste and a kitchen caddy to collect FOGO waste in their home and transport to their FOGO bin.
Results
The data collected over the duration of the FOGO trial revealed there was a lower than expected level of household interest to separate their organic waste and higher than expected costs associated with a two-bin kerbside FOGO waste collection service.
Trial results showed that although some participants transitioned easily to the two bin system, on average, over the trial period only 58% put their FOGO bins out for collection every week.
High contamination rates, which only improved short term when bin audits and bin tagging was undertaken, resulted in significantly increased costs in sorting and preparing the waste for processing. Some of the typical FOGO bin contaminants that needed to be removed from FOGO waste before it could be processed included nappies, drink containers and plastic packaging.
The development of Australian Standard compost from FOGO waste, which would have offset some of the costs also proved problematic. As the City does not have access to screening, plant and equipment or other composting products required to make compliant compost, the material had to be transported to a dedicated facility nearly 350kms away.
Next Steps
Following the last FOGO collection in the week starting 15 July 2024, the bins, which belong to the City, will be collected by the City's waste contractor.
Participants who missed the last collection day and still have their bins are requested to contact the City so arrangements can be made to collect the FOGO bin.
What happens to FOGO waste now?
The City is looking to hold a home composting workshop in the coming months. If you’re interested, please contact council@cgg.wa.gov.au to register and receive information when a time and date have been confirmed. FOGO trial participants will have priority in participating in this event.
Trail Participant FAQs
Why is the FOGO trial concluding?
What were the findings of the trial?
What were the FOGO bins being contaminated with?
When is the last FOGO bin collection day?
What is going to happen with my FOGO bin?
Can I keep my FOGO bin?
Is anything being rolled out in its place?
Is this going to affect my normal rubbish collection?
What can we do with our FOGO now?
I was on holiday/away and missed the letter; how can my bin be collected or dropped off?
What if I put my bin out and it wasn’t collected?
What will happen to the FOGO bins once you’ve collected them?
Can we purchase the FOGO bin?
Will my rubbish rate service fee decrease now that the trial is over?
What does my rubbish service fee pay for?
I purchased lots of compostable bin liners; what can I do with them now?
Why weren’t participants engaged regarding the trial ending?
Why is the FOGO trial concluding?
Findings from the trial showed low participation rates combined with high bin contamination rates, resulting in high operational costs, led to Council’s decision to end the kerbside collection trial of Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) waste.
What were the findings of the trial?
The trial revealed several challenges:
- Low bin presentation rates (on average only 58% of households participated).
- High contamination rates
- Difficulties in achieving behavioural change to a two-bin FOGO system.
- Processing the FOGO waste to Australian Standards involved a 680km round trip to the nearest composting
- Increased cost to the residents to implement a full roll-out of FOGO based on the results of the trial.
What were the FOGO bins being contaminated with?
Typical contaminants included nappies, drink containers and plastic packaging.
When is the last FOGO bin collection day?
The last FOGO collection will occur on your normal bin collection day in the week starting 15 July 2024.
What is going to happen with my FOGO bin?
Your FOGO bin will be picked by the City’s waste collection contractor after the last collection day.
Please leave your FOGO bin out on the verge after it has been emptied to allow it to be picked up.
After it has been emptied for the last time, please refrain from placing any more FOGO waste inside.
Can I keep my FOGO bin?
No, the 240L lime green FOGO bin belongs the City and will be collected. However, you may keep your kitchen caddy (small inside bin).
Is anything being rolled out in its place?
The next phase will involve the City investigating other waste avoidance and recovery options for its residents. This could include yellow top bin recycling system and other composting/food waste recovery programs.
Is this going to affect my normal rubbish collection?
No. There will be no changes to your normal rubbish collection service.
What can we do with our FOGO now?
FOGO waste will now revert to being place in your General Waste bin. However, home composting is a great alternative way to avoid waste going to landfill.
The City is looking at holding some home composting workshop in the coming months.
If you’re interested, please email council@cgg.wa.gov.au to register your interest.
I was on holiday/away and missed the letter; how can my bin be collected or dropped off?
If you missed the bin collection, contact the City on 9956 6600 or email council@cgg.wa.gov.au with your name and address. Arrangements will then be made to collect the bin.
What if I put my bin out and it wasn’t collected?
If your bin was not collected, leave it on the verge and contact the City on 9956 6600 or council@cgg.wa.gov.au with your details.
Alternatively, you can fill out the missed bin form here
What will happen to the FOGO bins once you’ve collected them?
The 240L FOGO bins will be repurposed into public bins or event bins.
Can we purchase the FOGO bin?
If you wish to purchase a new bin, please refer to the City’s website to submit the purchase bin form here
Will my rubbish rate service fee decrease now that the trial is over?
No, there will be no decrease in the rubbish service fee, the FOGO program was an operational trial which was not part of the fee.
What does my rubbish service fee pay for?
The domestic rubbish service fee covers the weekly general waste bin pickup, disposal costs to landfill, public bin services and free residential tipping of general waste and green waste at the Meru Waste Management Facility.
I purchased lots of compostable bin liners; what can I do with them now?
You can continue to use the compostable bin liners for your general waste or in your kitchen caddy. Unfortunately, there will be no reimbursements for them.
Why weren’t participants engaged regarding the trial ending?
As a Council matter, the decision to conclude the trial was determined by at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 25 June 2024. City officers have informed trial participants as soon as is practicable after this date.