- Cook Government offers structured rebate over a three-year period to support continuity of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) services in the South West
- Comprehensive proposal provided to councils following extensive engagement to protect environmental outcomes and strengthen WA's circular economy
- Transitional support funded through the metropolitan waste levy, ensuring communities retain access to FOGO services while long-term solutions are delivered by local councils
The Cook Government has offered a substantial $2.7 million funding package to assist South West local governments to maintain Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) services, ensuring continued progress towards Western Australia's waste-reduction and circular-economy priorities.
The proposed South West FOGO Transport Rebate was detailed to councils following a series of meetings between the Environment Minister's office, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, and South West councils' CEOs and shire presidents.
A structured rebate over a three-year period, starting at $75 per tonne, will assist councils to transport FOGO feedstock to licensed processing facilities while work continues on a long-term, regionally sustainable processing solution.
The rebate will be administered under theWaste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007, ensuring funding supports objectives of WA's waste strategy, Beyond WAste 2030.
Local governments receiving the rebate will be required to demonstrate tonnages transported and take steps to reduce contamination to maintain the integrity of the system.
The Cook Government will continue to work with councils and industry stakeholders to develop long-term infrastructure options, including regional transfer-station capacity and sustainable processing solutions.
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"A key responsibility of local governments is waste recovery, including FOGO, with many of the South West councils helping drive WA's early success with FOGO.
"FOGO remains an important part of the State's growing circular economy, playing a key role in the waste hierarchy.
"Growing the recycled organics industry supports our ambition to innovate, diversify, and foster a circular economy and local jobs, while diverting valuable material from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and regenerating soils.
"That is why the Cook Government has stepped in with a clear, structured support package to provide the certainty and breathing room councils need to ensure the foundations of a long-term sustainable FOGO system.
"This is a substantial offer from the State Government.
"This initiative has been designed to assist regional local governments in maintaining a strong approach to waste reduction.
"I strongly encourage the South West councils to take up this offer and continue to work on delivering FOGO services to their communities."
