Food scraps and garden clippings placed in Manningham residents' FOGO bins are being given a second life, helping establish a new tree walk at Ruffey Lake Park.
More than 133 cubic metres of compost produced through Manningham's Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) program has been delivered to the site, transforming everyday household waste into nutrient-rich soil.
The compost was used to prepare the ground ahead of planting 90 trees, including an avenue of flowering cherry trees that will become a seasonal drawcard for the park.
Deputy Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante said residents' actions were directly contributing to the future of one of Manningham's most loved and significant community spaces.
"Today's food scraps are helping grow tomorrow's cherry blossoms. Every banana peel, coffee ground and garden clipping placed in a FOGO bin can help grow something new."
"It's a practical example of how small actions at home can create a lasting legacy in our parks and open spaces," said Deputy Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante.
"The tree walk shows how something as simple as using your FOGO bin can help grow greener parks, support our tree canopy and biodiversity, and improve community wellbeing."
The walk forms part of the Ruffey Lake Park Masterplan, a 15-year vision guiding the park's design, development and management. It will promote environmental education while showcasing a diverse collection of indigenous, native, climate-resilient and exotic tree species.
More than 1,000 community members provided feedback during the development of the Masterplan, which Council endorsed in 2021 after extensive community consultation.
It's a simple cycle with a visible result: residents place food scraps and garden clippings in their FOGO bins, the material is turned into compost, and that compost helps grow the next generation of trees at Ruffey Lake Park.
