The McGowan Government today announced funding for local governments wanting a share of $20 million over six years to support the transition to better practice, high performing three‑bin FOGO kerbside collection services. The announcement coincides with the International Compost Awareness Week.
The Better Bins Plus: Go FOGO program supports local governments to make the transition to three-bin FOGO services consisting of a red-lidded bin for general waste, a yellow-lidded bin for co-mingled recycling, and a lime-green lidded bin for food organics and garden organics.
Local governments are now eligible to apply for funding of up to $25 for each household receiving a three-bin FOGO collection service.
Many Western Australian households already have access to a three‑bin system thanks to the previous Better Bins program. However, in most cases, the organics bin is for garden organic waste (GO) only.
High performing three bin FOGO services can achieve recovery rates of more than 65 per cent and make the single biggest contribution to achieving the waste strategy material recovery targets for municipal solid waste.
Recycling can support around three times the number of jobs compared to waste disposal, and, as identified by the City of Melville, FOGO can reduce local government waste management costs.
FOGO also delivers environmental benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while FOGO products can help soil quality and can be used locally, reducing the environmental and economic cost of transporting materials over long distances.
Local governments that have already accessed Better Bins funding of $30 per household can access up to an additional $15 per household.
The Western Australian Government is also supporting the rollout of FOGO services through:
- new guidelines for the location, design, construction and operation of composting facilities;
- licensing of new composting operations which can safely receive materials while also protecting public amenity; and
- establishment of a reference group to provide advice on rollout issues including local government services, engagement and education, FOGO processing and market development.
For more information or to apply for this round of local government funding please visit https://www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au/ or email [email protected]
Applications for funding allocated in 2020-21 close on Friday July 10, 2020.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Three-bin FOGO services can make a significant contribution to reducing waste in Western Australia and councils that have introduced FOGO can increase recovery rates to more than 65 per cent.
“High performing FOGO services can make a significant contribution to achieving the State’s recycling targets. Recycling also supports around three times more jobs compared to sending a similar amount of waste to landfill.
“FOGO services can also reduce local government waste management costs by reducing the amount of material sent to landfill.
“In Bunbury, which introduced FOGO services in 2013, the amount of waste sent to landfill has reduced by around 6,000 tonnes every year.
“Funding can be used to offset the costs of providing kitchen caddies and compostable liners, and implementing community education and engagement programs to support the rollout of high performing FOGO services.
“I encourage local governments and their communities to get behind this program, apply for funding for FOGO services and support our move towards more consistent and better performing waste management services.”
