Shellharbour City Council is encouraging residents to remember a simple message at home: if it grows, it's FOGO, as part of ongoing efforts to improve waste sorting across the city.
Caption: If It Grows It's FOGO! Campaign. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
Food Organics and Garden Organics, or FOGO, allows residents to place food scraps and garden waste such as lawn clippings and leaves into their green bin.
Once collected, this material is processed into nutrient rich compost and mulch at Council's local facility instead of being sent to landfill.
Mayor Chris Homer said small changes at home can make a big difference for the community and the environment.
"When residents put food scraps and garden clippings in the green bin, we're keeping valuable material out of landfill and turning it into something useful for our community," Mayor Homer said.
"Every right choice at home helps reduce emissions, protect landfill capacity and create high-quality compost."
On average, around 22 per cent of waste in household red bins is food that could be recycled through FOGO.
Correct waste sorting helps protect the landfill area within the Dunmore Recycling and Waste Disposal Depot, with current projections showing landfill capacity lasting until 2058. By reducing the amount of organic material sent to landfill now, residents and Council can work together to better manage capacity and extend the life of this critical community asset.
Residents can also collect up to three free packets of FOGO compostable bags(Opens in a new window) each year from Council pick up locations, including the Civic Centre, local libraries and the Waste Depot.
Council is encouraging residents to take a few simple steps to get the most out of their FOGO service:
- Place all food scraps and garden organics in the green bin
- Use AS4736 compostable bags
- Put bins out weekly
- Keep bins in a shaded, well ventilated area
By continuing to improve waste sorting habits, the Shellharbour community can play an important role in creating a cleaner and more sustainable future.
