All systems FOGO for green trial
06 August 2021
Community consultation has begun for residents directly involved in the upcoming food organics, garden organics (FOGO) trial, with Council engaging with approximately 1,000 participating households in Bellbird Park and Raceview.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the trial was one of several being delivered across Queensland councils and would test the collection process, the impact of food waste in green bins, as well as the community’s reaction to the change in process.
“Approximately 1,000 households, 500 in Raceview and 500 in Bellbird Park, have received their trial information pack in the mail last week. If you haven’t received a FOGO trial information pack in the mail, you haven’t been selected to participate in the FOGO trial,” Mayor Harding said.
“Trial participants will receive a new 240 litre ‘green top’ bin for free. For residents who already have one, your fees will be waived for the duration of the trial.
“Council will be supporting trial participants every step of the way. Your views and experiences will be critical to understanding how we may be able to roll out FOGO across the city in future years.”
Mayor Harding said the trial, which would only affect 1,000 households, would change the way residents use green bins and general waste bins, including frequency of collection.
“Residents in the trial zone will be able to send food waste, leftovers, grass clippings and a range of other organic material for composting rather than to landfill,” Mayor Harding said.
“These green bins will be collected weekly, rather than fortnightly, with general waste (red top) bins moving to fortnightly. Recycling yellow-top bins will remain on fortnightly collection as well.
“We know that up to 40 percent of current general waste collection is food waste or branch clippings and is also the material that causes the bad smell in our bins.
“By adding it to garden waste (‘green top’) bins, and collecting it weekly rather than fortnightly, we can divert a significant volume of smelly waste and turn it into something useful, like compost, and keep it out of general waste landfills where it can cause long-term issues.”
More than 70 councils across the country have already implemented FOGO collection.
A number of Queensland councils will also trial FOGO around the same time as Ipswich City Council, including in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Rockhampton and Townsville.