Garden Organics

What is GO?

GO stands for Garden Organics material. GO bins are designed for all of your garden waste. This organic waste is collected fortnightly and then turned into compost, soil improvers and mulch at a local composting facility. These all allow nutrients to be returned to the environment in parks, gardens and farms.

What do I do if my property does not have a GO bin?

Residents across Ipswich that do not have a garden organics bin (and are considered eligible) at their property, can contact council on (07) 3810 6666.

What are the benefits of a kerbside GO collection?

• Reduce landfill: by separating garden waste, more organic material can be composted rather than ending up in landfill
• Reduce costs: diverting organics effectively reduces costs associated with landfill disposal fees and the Queensland Waste Levy, which helps to keep waste charges lower
• Environmental benefits: composting organic waste reduces emissions and returns nutrients to the soil through compost and mulch.

What if I don’t want a GO bin?

The GO bin is part of the standard kerbside collection service for all customers and included in your existing waste management utility charge similar to the recycling bin.

What are the fees and charges that come with the GO service?

The GO bin is part of the standard waste collection service, included in the waste management utility charge that customers pay. The GO bin service doesn’t cost customers more, as there will be cost savings from diverting organics from landfill.

The waste management utility charge increases each financial year for various reasons, one being that the State Waste Levy increases. Effective use of the GO bin means that the waste utility charge increase is minimised due to the reduction of waste going to landfill.

Can I use my own compost bin instead of the GO bin?

Residents are always encouraged to compost at home, this is highly efficient and creates a useful product for reuse at home.

The GO service can be seen as complimentary to home composting, if you are already doing that, and provides additional capacity if not everything can be dealt with at home, such as large volumes of grass clippings or weeds.

Can businesses or commercial entities commence a GO service?

The core GO service has been implemented for residential properties. However, it is possible in the future, council recognises the important part businesses and commercial properties play in recovering organic materials.

Council is still considering how it may include businesses and commercial entities. Information about the processes, eligibility and participation of non-residential properties will be communicated separately, once finalised.

Is my property eligible for a GO bin?

All standalone single unit dwelling households which currently have a 240L red lid general waste bin and 240/360L yellow lid recycling bin are eligible for a 240L GO bin.

Current ineligible properties:

• Multiple dwellings are ineligible at this stage. Council is in the process of reviewing the need for GO bins, or alternative GO solutions for multiple dwellings. More will be communicated about any potential future implementation.
• Properties in Ipswich that do not currently have a council domestic waste service.

What is the size of the GO bin?

Only 240L bins will be delivered. Existing 360L bins will be phased out and replaced with 240L bins when they become broken, non-functional, or stolen.

Does council sell the green waste at a profit?

Council pays to manage, transport and process organic materials, it does not sell the material. Processing Garden Organics will become significantly cheaper than managing general waste in coming years.

Does the green bin get picked up by a separate truck? What happens with the green waste?

Yes, dedicated trucks collect green waste and deliver it to certified composters to be turned into mulch and soil improvers.

Can I have more than one GO bin?

Yes, a second or subsequent GO bin can be ordered, charges apply. However, residents will need to ensure that there is enough space to store the additional bin at their property and that there is room at the front of their property for the additional bin to be placed at kerbside for servicing. Residents who wish to order additional GO bins can contact council on (07) 3810 6666.

What if I have too much garden material for my GO bin?

If your GO bin is too full or too heavy, it may not be serviced. You can continue to take garden waste to the Riverview and Rosewood Recycling and Refuse Centres, where it will be mulched and turned into compost. Alternatively, you can apply for an additional GO bin.

Why has my GO bin not been serviced?

Your GO bin will not be serviced if it is too heavy or has the wrong materials inside. It is essential that only accepted materials go into the GO bin. Items such as plastic bags, boxes, general waste, soil, etc. will contaminate garden organic waste making it unsuitable for composting purposes. If GO bins continue to be contaminated, the bin maybe removed from the property.

Whatever happened to FOGO?