What can go in my FOGO bin?

City of Port Phillip
It's important to keep contamination levels in our food and garden organics (FOGO) recycling bins low so we can continue to create high quality compost to nourish Victorian parks and grounds.

Contaminants such as pet waste or tea bags shouldn't go in your FOGO bin because it can't be composted by our FOGO processor. If contamination levels are too high, FOGO materials are unable to be turned into compost and need to be taken to landfill.

Our FOGO materials are hand-sorted for contamination by staff at our FOGO processor. Contamination may cause damage to machinery and safety issues for staff as they manually pick out any non-compostable items.

We've put together the below list to help you familiarise and learn what can and can't go in your FOGO bin.

If you are unsure about a particular item, please contact ASSIST on 9209 6777 and leave it out of your bin until you receive a response.

What can and can't go in your FOGO bin

Your FOGO bin accepts:

Food organics:

  • fruit and vegetable scraps including citrus and onion
  • meat and seafood
  • uncooked bones
  • baked goods including bread, pastries
  • grains and cereal
  • mouldy and expired products
  • loose tea leaves and coffee grounds.
  • Garden Organics
  • grass clippings and weeds (free of soil)
  • garden prunings
  • leaves

Other items:

  • lime green compostable caddy liners (AS 4736 and AS 5810)
  • small amounts of tissues, paper towel and shredded paper.

Your FOGO bin does not accept:

  • tea bags
  • coffee pods
  • pet waste and cat litter
  • compostable food packaging
  • liquids including cooking oil
  • soft plastics and plastic bags
  • soil
  • rocks and pebbles
  • plant pots
  • cooked bones and shellfish shells
  • rubber bands and string
  • bamboo cutlery
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