Kerbside collection customers across Corangamite Shire can jump start their fire safety clean-ups thanks to extra FOGO bin pick-ups.
The green-lidded Food Organics and Garden Organics bins will be collected weekly, instead of fortnightly, from Monday 3 October until the end of the year.
Corangamite Shire Manager Environment and Emergency Lyall Bond said Council doubled collections each spring to help residents keep their properties under control in the rapid growth period ahead of bushfire season.
"Free domestic green waste disposal is helping Shire residents keep their properties safe in preparation for bush fire season," Mr Bond said.
"Preparation is the key. Now is the time to reduce fuel loads by managing grass growth, pruning trees and shrubs and cleaning up bark, twigs, leaves and other organic matter around your property.
"Getting out in the garden keeps our neighbourhoods looking good and has been show to provide mental health benefits as well."
FOGO bins can take more than just lawn and garden clippings.
"You can put any organic waste in, such as non-treated timber, vacuum dust, soiled paper and pizza boxes—even pet droppings," Mr Bond said.
"Food scraps including meat, bones, citrus and dairy products can all go into your FOGO and will be composted at the Corangamite Regional Landfill at Naroghid.
"Food that ends up in landfill creates methane gas, which is 25 times worse for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, so keeping it with the green waste and out of landfill is better for the environment.
"It also saves ratepayers' money because food waste is costly to manage in landfills."
Collections will revert to fortnightly service from 1 January.
Mr Bond said residents will be able to drop garden waste at Naroghid Regional Landfill and all Shire transfer stations for free from Saturday 5 November until Sunday 27 November.
"The free drop-offs are for residential garden waste only, not for commercial operators."
