The way you dispose of your organic material is changing for the better in 2023.
FOGO is here!
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)
Translated FOGO Flyers
The following flyers can be downloaded and viewed online, or printed.
Punjabi
Mandarin
Italian
Burmese
Filipino
Vietnamese
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 three bin system to be rolled out across the Alpine Shire this July will cost the majority of ratepayers an additional $95 in waste charges compared to the charges applied this year, pending the adoption of the 2023/24 budget.
The $95 increase will apply to around 5,000 properties within the Alpine Shire which will move to a fortnightly 80L waste and fortnightly 240L recycling collections, as well as a weekly 240L FOGO collection.
A smaller number of ratepayers who receive a service other than the standard sized bins will see a different net increase or decrease on their kerbside service charges.
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 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.
Will Council still offer its free kerbside pruning collection service?
No - with the introduction of the FOGO service, you will be able to dispose of green waste in your green bin, and have it collected weekly; therefore, as of July 2023, Council will no longer offer its annual kerbside pruning collection.
Myrtleford, Mount Beauty and Porepunkah Transfer Stations will continue to run their usual free green waste weekends throughout the year.
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.
Did Council engage with the community before introducing FOGO?
In 2019, Council mailed out a survey to every household in the Alpine Shire asking for feedback on the potential introduction of a three-bin system.
Shortly after the results of this survey, the Victorian Government introduced its Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 that requires all councils to provide a FOGO service to all households by 2030.
In early 2023, Council ran another survey which was promoted through our local libraries, local newspapers and radio, Council's website and social media.
This survey was held to gain insight on our community's awareness and understanding of the upcoming FOGO service, in order to help tailor our education material to best support our community in our transition to the new three-bin system this July.
The survey was not, however, an opportunity to decide which model of FOGO service would be most efficient or inform a decision on whether to roll out the FOGO kerbside service.
Is this service mandatory?
The FOGO bin will be mandatory for all properties (including commercial holiday accommodation e.g. Airbnb, holiday homes, short-term accommodation) that currently receive a weekly waste collection; however it will be optional for commercial CBD shopfronts.
I already compost at home, can I opt out of the service?
Firstly, well done for composting at home! You can keep composting as usual.
The FOGO service can complement your existing efforts. You can place certain items into your FOGO bin that some home composting systems cannot accept such as cooked foods, meat, bones, dairy, citrus, oils, and fats, shredded and scrunched paper, tissues and paper towel, pizza boxes, and animal waste, including clay, tofu or paper-based kitty litter.
You can also dispose of green waste that isn’t suitable for your home compost, such as diseased plants, noxious weeds, excess lawn clippings and leaves.
Why can't I opt out of receiving a FOGO service?
At present, around 76 per cent of Victorian councils who have introduced a FOGO service don't provide an opt out service. The vast majority of councils who have provided an opt out service are either metro, or large regional councils.
Alpine Shire Council is a very small council in comparison to other councils rolling out FOGO in Victoria. This means that our Council has less resources to call on when delivering our public waste and other public services. These kinds of limitations mean that FOGO isn't optional, as it wouldn't make the service viable for Council to deliver and maintain.
Why are non-residential businesses allowed to opt out of the FOGO service while residences are not?
I don’t produce any food or garden materials, can I opt out of the service?
There won't be an option to opt out of the FOGO 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.
Are there any exemptions from receiving the food and garden organics collection service?
There won't be any exemptions from receiving the FOGO service - it will be compulsory for all properties that currently receive a weekly waste collection; however it will be optional for commercial CBD shopfronts.
How often will my waste and recycling 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.
Even without organic waste, my red bin is still full every week. What do you suggest I do when it’s collected fortnightly?
Won’t my red bin start to smell if it’s only collected fortnightly?
Unless you’re disposing of nappies or medical waste, your red bin shouldn’t be used for waste that may smell over time, such as food waste. All organic material will go in your green bin, which will be collected weekly.
We understand some residents with children in nappies are concerned about the odour of their red lid garbage bin once collection frequency changes to fortnightly.
We know that nappies and bins smell, however we also know that other local council areas who have changed to a fortnightly garbage bin collection have not experienced issues with nappies or occurs.
A Community Nappy Trial in Lake Macquarie Council even found that the smell of bins that contained nappies was no worse at the end of two weeks than it was at the end of one week.
If you are putting disposable nappies or used sanitary items in your bin, there are a number of methods you can use to minimise odour. If possible, empty nappy solids into the toilet and ensure nappies or sanitary items are tightly sealed within a nappy disposal bag or wrapped in newspaper, before placing in your red lidded garbage bin. Store your red bin in the shade and ensure your bin lid remains closed at all times.
As part of Halve Wastes' campaign to reduce waste in landfill, Alpine Shire residents are also eligible for rebates on reusable cloth nappies and menstrual products. More information and an application form can be found here: https://halvewaste.com.au/reusable-menstrual-products
Will I be able to get a larger red lid garbage bin for my household?
Yes, you will be able to request an upgrade to a larger size red-lid waste bin (240L). This can be requested to Customer Service in writing, with the acceptance of charges associated with the upgrade.
What about the smell of nappies in my red lid garbage bin?
We understand some residents with children in nappies are concerned about the odour of their red lid garbage bin once collection frequency changes to fortnightly.
We know that nappies and bins smell, however we also know that other local council areas who have changed to a fortnightly garbage bin collection have not experienced issues with nappies or odours.
A Community Nappy Trial in Lake Macquarie Council even found that the smell of bins that contained nappies was no worse at the end of two weeks than it was at the end of one week.
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.
How will I remember which bins to put out each week?
There will be many resources available to remind you which bins need to go out each week, including an annual bin calendar and Council’s website.
What can go into the food and garden organics (green-lidded) bin?
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 provided 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 leaves 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.
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 Wagga Wagga and turned into high quality compost that is on sold for agriculture application and purchase at a few nurseries in the Border region.
Will my green bin start to smell?
While you can put loose food waste into your green bin, we recommend containing food items in the green compostable caddy liners that will be provided to you with your green bin and caddy. These liners will prevent food matter from sticking to the inside of your bin and help keep it clean.
What will I do if I run out of caddy liners? Can I buy more from the supermarket?
You will be provided with a year’s supply of Council approved green compostable liners annually. Please remember that the compostable liners supplied by Council are the only liners that can be used. Sadly, biodegradable, degradable or normal plastic bags or bin liners do not decompose and can contaminate the contents of the green-lidded organics bin.
These liners have a shelf life of approximately 12 months so if your roll starts breaking or disintegrating, please start your new roll.
If you run out of liners, you can line your kitchen caddy with paper towel or newspapers, or empty organic materials straight into your green-lidded organics bins
How will tourists know how to correctly use the new bin system when they visit the Alpine Shire?
Fortunately, 47 Victorian councils have already implemented a Food Organic and Garden Organics service, meaning many visitors to the Alpine Shire will already be familiar with how the three-bin system works.
With the state-wide initiative in place that will see all Victorian councils introduce a three-bin service by 2030, as outlined in the State Government’s Recycling Victoria Policy, education around FOGO will only become more widespread.
For visitors not familiar with FOGO, Council will provide both holiday home owners and local businesses with educational material to display to help their guests and customers learn how to use the correct bins.
Ultimately, it will be up to the owners of holiday rentals to ensure that people renting their properties are aware of how waste is managed in Alpine Shire and prevent contamination by guests.
Does food need to be removed from its packaging before it goes in the FOGO bin?
Yes, it does need to be removed from its packaging.
What is in a FOGO starter kit?
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.
Are there any other changes associated with the introduction of the food and garden organics collection service?
With the introduction of a new waste contract achieved through a competitive tender process, Council is also changing the way it charges for kerbside waste collection. The new model is in line with the majority of Victorian councils and is considered best practice. We are making the system fairer, and this is a clear and transparent way of charging for waste collection. From July this year, properties will be charged on a per litre rate for disposal, recycling and processing according to their bin size for each service. All properties will also pay the same general waste charge, which recovers costs associated with public place bins, kerbside bin infrastructure, transfer station operating costs, landfill capping works and waste education. This was previously listed on rates notices as the waste management charge.
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.
Community Engagement timeline (to date) and key events
June 2019 - Resident and Ratepayer Survey (inc. businesses) conducted
April 2020 - Key event - Recycling Victoria Policy was released by the Victorian Government
February 2023 - Resident and Ratepayer Survey (inc. businesses) conducted
May 2023 - Green to Red Lid Changeover Project - Waste Bin
Pop Ups
> Harrietville Bush Market | Sunday, 9 April 2023
> Bright's Make It, Bake It, Grow It Market | Saturday, 15 April 2023
> Myrtleford Farmers Market | Saturday, 22 April 2023
> Mount Beauty Market | Saturday, 6 May 2023
