Learn more on how Ipswich City Council is delivering the Resource Recovery Strategy on Shape Your Ipswich.
In line with council’s Resource Recovery Strategy the Green Waste Service has changed in name to Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO).
Council is offering all Ipswich residents a high-value, convenient food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection service, turning waste such as grass clippings, prunings, leaves, fruits and vegetables, and meat and dairy leftovers into compost. This compost can be put back into the green spaces around the city and also provides a good source of nutrient’s for growing new organic produce.
When commencing a new FOGO service, residents will receive a FOGO bin with a lime green lid from Ipswich Waste Services. The organic material from this bin will be collected from your home on a fortnightly basis and then mulched and turned into compost at a local composting facility.
This is a great environmental outcome for the City of Ipswich.
Currently, all residents can opt to have a 240-litre FOGO wheelie bin.
Cost of service
For services commenced by property owners/managing agents:
- 240-litre FOGO service - $20.00 per quarter
There are no further charges for this service. Charges will appear on the rates account and the billing will start when the collection service commences. Property owners/managing agents must commit to the service for a minimum of 12 months from service commencement - after this time, the service can be cancelled at any time.
How to apply for a FOGO service
- Homeowners
If you are interested in applying for a FOGO service, please submit your service request online via MyIpswich or contact Council on (07) 3810 6666. - Tenants
Contact Council on (07) 3810 6666 to arrange payment for the service. - Units/townhouses
The building manager or body corporate of the units/townhouses can submit the FOGO service request online via MyIpswich or contact Council on (07) 3810 6666.
FOGO bin service schedule
The service is offered on a fortnightly basis using 240-litre FOGO bins with a lime green lid. Service days are the same day as the residents’ normal general waste collection service, and on the alternate week to the recycling service. The FOGO bin must be correctly placed on the kerbside in the same manner as the general waste and recycling bins.
Items suitable for FOGO waste bins
Acceptable items:
- prunings and grass clippings
- shrubs
- weeds
- leaves and loose bark
- raw and cooked fruit and vegetable scraps
- egg shells
- coffee grounds
- bread
- meat scraps and bones
- dairy products
Note: materials must be placed loose in the bin and NOT in plastic bags or boxes.
Unacceptable items:
- No plastic bags
- No general waste or recycling
- No stones, concrete or masonry
- No large logs, branches and stumps that that may make the bin too heavy to service
FOGO resources
Changes announced to Council's FOGO service
Ipswich is proud to be the first council in Queensland to move to a city-wide Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) collection as a part of the 3-bin core service.
This will allow residents to recycle their food waste and garden organics by disposing them separately from general waste.
This city-wide FOGO rollout is expected to begin in 2024/2025.
What is changing with the FOGO service provided by Council?
The current opt-in Food Organic and Garden Organics (FOGO) service will be expanding to a city-wide core service. This will mean an additional green lid FOGO bin will be included to the regular kerbside general waste red lid and co-mingle yellow lid bin collections. This will be a fortnightly service alternating with recycling collection.
This change will allow Ipswich to make improvements towards higher recycling rate by diverting valuable organics from landfill.
Why is Council adding a kerbside collection service and what are the benefits?
One of the easiest ways to help reduce waste to landfill is to divert food and garden material from the red lid waste bin into a specialised green lid FOGO bin. Residents will benefit with the following:
- Cost effective – Reducing the impact of the state’s waste landfill levy on the council rates to Ipswich residents by diverting waste from landfill
- Meeting Standards – Diverting organics from landfill contributes to state waste diversion targets
- Environmentally sustainability –residents will be able to divert organic waste from landfill that can reduce greenhouse gas emission and achieve higher recycling rate
- Future Ipswich – Promoting a circular economy by turning organic waste into quality compost or other valuable end products.
When will the citywide FOGO service begin?
Ipswich City Council is also looking to expand its Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) from 2024/25. The exact dates for the implementation of the FOGO service have not been finalised yet.
To stay up to date with all things Resource Recovery related you can download the Ipswich Bin App and sign up for updates and announcements via the Resource Recovery in Ipswich Shape your Ipswich page.
Households are still able to commence an opt-in user pays FOGO service prior to 2024/25 if they wish.
Will there be any changes to the red lid general waste or yellow lid comingled recycling bin services?
The introduction of the FOGO service will not impact the existing kerbside collection services. Residents are encouraged to continue using the recycling as usual by separating recyclable materials from general waste and placing them in their yellow top recycling bins.
The FOGO service is specifically designed to collect organic waste and promote resource recovery.
Please refer to the council website for the most up-to-date information.
Can I use my own compost bin instead of the FOGO bin?
Residents are always encouraged to compost at home, this is highly efficient and creates a useful product for reuse at home. The FOGO 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 meat and dairy products.
Will the service change for residents who have already opted in to FOGO?
No, residents who have already opted into the FOGO service will not experience any changes. Their existing service will remain the same.
Can businesses or commercial entities participate in the FOGO service?
The core FOGO service is being implemented for residential properties. However, it is possible that 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.
FOGO FAQs
If you can't find the answer to your questions on this page, contact Council on (07) 3810 6666.
I currently rent property in Ipswich - can I apply for a FOGO bin?
Yes - contact Council on (07) 3810 6666 to arrange payment for the service.
Can I continue to put food and garden waste in my general waste (red) bin?
Although there is nothing stopping you from putting food and garden waste into your general waste (red) bin, it is then classed as general waste and all ends up at landfill. If you opt to sign up for a FOGO service, your food and garden waste will instead be turned into compost.This is better news for the environment and gives you more space in your general waste (red) bin.
What's the difference between FOGO, general waste and recycling bins?
The FOGO bin has been designed for the collection of food and garden waste. Your FOGO bin will have a lime green lid, differentiating it from your existing general waste and recycling bins. Your FOGO bin has air vents in the lid that allows oxygen to move freely though the bin, aiding evaporation and assisting in the decomposition process. This design helps to minimise odours and provides an adverse environment for insects.
Will my FOGO bin smell?
The FOGO bins are designed for the effective management of waste using natural aeration. The air vents and in the lid help to keep air circulating around the waste material, reducing any odour.
What if I no longer require the FOGO collection service?
If you have a rated FOGO service (i.e.: are a property owner or managing agent: Once the FOGO service commences, you are committed to the service for 12 months. If, after the 12 months have elapsed, you decide you no longer require the FOGO service, you can cancel at any time by contacting Council.
If you have a pre-paid FOGO service (i.e.: are a tenant): No refunds will be provided once payment has been made for the service. If you decide you no longer require the FOGO service, contact Council to arrange for your bin to be removed.
If I move house, what will happen to my FOGO service?
If you move house, please contact Council to have the FOGO bin removed and, if relevant, the charges taken off the rates. You can then apply to Council to have another FOGO bin delivered to your new property.
Can I have more than one FOGO bin?
Yes, you can contact Council to arrange for an additional FOGO bin. However, you will need to ensure that there is enough space for you to store the bin at your property and that there is room at the front of your property for the additional bin to be placed at kerbside for servicing.
Standard charges apply for each FOGO service you commence. The service day will remain fortnightly on the alternate week to your recycling collection day.
What if I have too much garden material for my FOGO bin?
If your FOGO 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 FOGO bin.
Why has my FOGO bin not been serviced?
Your FOGO 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 FOGO bin. Items such as plastic bags, boxes, general waste, soil, etc. will contaminate food and garden waste making it unsuitable for composting purposes. If FOGO bins continue to be contaminated, the bin may be removed from the property.
How can I stop vinegar flies or ants in my kitchen compost bucket?
Try an airtight bucket or store the container in the fridge.
How can I stop fruit and vegetable waste sticking to the sides of my FOGO bin?
There are a number of solutions:
- Always ensure some garden waste is placed in the bin before adding the fruit and vegetable scraps - this way the scraps get buried among the garden waste and don't stick to the sides of the bin.