The way you dispose of your organic material is changing for the better in 2023.
Join us at our upcoming community pop ups!
Learn about the weird, wacky and perhaps unexpected things that can go in your new FOGO bin with a sorting activity and chat with Councillors and Council staff about the many benefits of the new recycling stream!
> Myrtleford Farmers Market | Saturday, 25 March 2023
> Harrietville Bush Market | Sunday, 9 April 2023
> Bright’s Make It, Bake It, Grow It Market | Saturday, 15 April 2023
> Mount Beauty Market | Saturday, 6 May 2023
We are here to help, so make sure you pop down to your local market, stock up on local goodies and keep an eye out for the Alpine Shire Council marquee.
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact as a community. Removing our organic material from landfill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on landfill.
From July 2023, we’re introducing a new green kerbside bin and kitchen caddy for food and garden organics (FOGO) at properties located within urban kerbside collection areas (those who currently receive a weekly waste service) across the Alpine Shire.
This means you will be sorting your waste and recycling into 3 streams:
- your new food and garden organics bin (green lid)
- mixed recycling (yellow lid)
- general waste (red lid)
Members of the community wanting to find out more about the upcoming changes or when the new services arrive in their area can contact Customer Service on 03 5755 0555 or info@alpineshire.vic.gov.au for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Council introducing a food and garden organics bin?
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact as a community. Removing our organic material from landfill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on landfill. The new organics collection service will help you to make the most of your food and garden organics by turning it into things like mulch and compost that help grow crops that then feed us all.
A 2021 audit of waste bins in the Alpine Shire showed that 50% of the bin was made up of food and garden organics that could be recycled. From July 2023 these organic materials won’t need to be wasted in your general waste bin. Instead, they can be recycled. The service will meet new State Government requirements for all householders in Victoria to be provided with an opportunity to recycle food and garden organics.
It is also part of our commitment to reducing the production of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The decomposition of organic waste in landfill produces methane, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential that is 25 times worse than CO2. Turning organics into mulch and compost, instead of sending it to landfill, will reduce the methane being released into our atmosphere.
What will Council provide to property owners?
As part of the new service, we will provide property owners with a new 240-litre bin with a lime green lid, a caddy to collect food waste in their kitchen, an annual supply of compostable bags for your caddy and instructional material on how to use your new bin service.
When will the food and garden organics service start?
It is expected that new organics bins will be provided to property owners in time for the collection service to start in July 2023.
How much will the new service cost?
The cost of the new service is still being finalised. We are working to make sure that the overall waste, recycling and organics service is as equitable and affordable as possible for the community.
We were part of a collaborative procurement process with other North East Victorian Councils for our waste, recycling and FOGO collection and processing services. At the February 2023 Council Meeting (held on 28 February), Council endorsed Cleanaway and Veolia as the preferred tenderers for their respective serices.
The collaborative procurement process gave us improved buying power and will ensure the best value for money to residents.
What can go into the food and garden organics (green-lidded) bin?
This is still being decided. A confirmed list of materials will be provided in 2023 once the organic processing contractor is appointed. Some of the many things you will be able to put dispose of in your green bin include:
- Raw and cooked food scraps
- Vegetable peel and scraps
- Council approved green compostable liners
- Meat and fish bones
- Dairy products
- Real Christmas tree
- Oils and fats (absorb in paper towel first)
- Shredded and scrunched paper
- Tissues and paper towel
- Pizza boxes
- Feathers, human and animal hair
- Tea bags and coffee grinds
- Kitty litter
- Lawn clippings, leaves and weeds
- Branches 30cm or smaller
How often will the food and garden organics bin be collected?
The new food and garden organics bin will be collected on a weekly basis.
How often will my other bins be collected?
Your general waste bin will move to a fortnightly collection and your recycling bin will be collected fortnightly on the alternate week.
Is this service mandatory?
All residential properties (including commercial holiday accommodation e.g. Airbnb, holiday homes, short-term accommodation) who currently receive a weekly waste service will automatically receive the new food and garden organics kerbside collection service. We are currently considering whether any exemptions for the service will be allowed, in very limited circumstances. A decision on exemptions will be made and communicated in early 2023.
I don’t live/operate in an urban area, can I access the food and garden organics service?
Rural properties that currently receive a fortnightly waste service are unable to access the food and garden organics collection service at this time. These rural residents can take garden organics to drop off points at local transfer stations.
What will my new bin system look like?
Properties currently have a general waste (green or red lidded) bin, and a recycling (yellow-lidded) bin. From July 2023, a third bin will be introduced. The new third bin will be for food and garden organics and will have a lime-green lid.
If your current general waste bin has a green lid, it will have its lid changed to a red lid prior to the new service starting. The recycling (yellow- lidded) bin will remain the same.
Your general waste bin will move to a fortnightly collection and your recycling bin will be collected fortnightly on the alternate week. FOGO will be collected on a weekly basis.
What will I put in my general waste (red-lidded) bin once I have the third bin?
Once we move to a three-bin system your general waste bin will be used for anything that can’t be recycled or composted. This includes nappies, general household waste, broken glass or ceramics, plastic bags and soft plastics, clothing that can’t be donated to charity, and polystyrene.
I already compost at home, can I opt out of the service?
Under the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Act 2020, a commitment was made to create a standard kerbside service (that includes FOGO and glass) across Victoria by 2030. This Act requires a FOGO service to be in place by 2026-2027.
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact as a community. Removing our organic material from landfill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on landfill.
This standard service will require all councils across Victoria to provide households with a food and garden organics service. This means that we will be required to roll out an organics service to all households. We want to thank you for your efforts home composting and keeping organic materials out of the waste stream. We hope to continue to work together to recycle organic materials once the new service is introduced.
We are currently considering whether any exemptions for the service will be allowed, in very limited circumstances. A decision on exemptions will be made and communicated in early 2023.
I don’t produce any food or garden materials, can I opt out of the service?
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact as a community. Removing our organic material from landfill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on landfill.
Under the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Act 2020, a commitment was made to create a standard kerbside service (that includes FOGO and glass) across Victoria by 2030. This Act requires a FOGO service to be in place by 2026-2027. This standard service will require all councils across Victoria to provide households with a food and garden organics service. This means that we will be required to roll out an organics service to all households.
We are currently considering whether any exemptions for the service will be allowed, in very limited circumstances. A decision on exemptions will be made and communicated in early 2023.
Even without organic waste, my red bin is still full every week. What do you suggest I do when it’s collected fortnightly?
How will I remember which bins to put out each week?
There are many resources available to remind you which bins need to go out each week, including an annual bin calendar, and Council’s website https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/bin-col...
Are there any exemptions from receiving the food and garden organics collection service?
We are currently considering whether any exemptions for the service will be allowed, in very limited circumstances. A decision on exemptions will be made and communicated in early 2023.
Will the organic material be recycled in the Alpine Shire?
Our food scraps and garden material will be taken to a commercial compost facility in Regional NSW (actual location to be announced) and turned into high quality compost.
What other information will be available in early 2023?
- Which businesses will be required to receive the service and any exemptions that may be available.
- The specific materials that will be accepted in the food and garden organics bin. This is dependent on what is accepted by the appointed organics processor.
How can I receive more information as it becomes available?
Our Customer Service team can take your contact details and provide an update on the details of the food and garden organics service as it becomes available.
Council’s FOGO service introduction aligns with the State Government’s Recycling Victoria 2020 policy, requiring all Victorians to have access to 4 streams of waste and recycling services by 2030.
Council will provide more information to property owners on how to use their new bin and caddy at the time of the rollout. Until then, properties should continue using the current waste and recycling system as normal.
