Forty tonnes diverted by Council’s FOGO Trial

Two months in and the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) Trial for the Lockyer Valley community continues to go from strength to strength, with more than 40 tonnes of FOGO collected to date.

Lockyer Valley Deputy Mayor and Waste Portfolio Councillor Jason Cook said more than half of the selected Trial participants had generated eight elephants’ worth of FOGO.

“Alarmingly, there is less than six years’ capacity remaining in the Gatton Landfill and, when that site is full, waste will need to be transported some distance, at greater cost to ratepayers, to external landfills.

“We needed a solution to decrease the amount of waste at the Gatton Waste Facility, and this Trial was the perfect answer.

“Fifty per cent of our red bin is made up of compostable material and through this Trial we are trying to divert this from the Gatton Waste Facility to make a reusable product,” Cr Cook said.

Residents in the Trial areas have reported to Council that placing all food/organic and garden waste into the new FOGO bin has resulted in 50 per cent more space in their red bins. Cardboard, cans, bottles, containers and cardboard can also be placed in the yellow top bin.

Cr Cook said residents in the Trial area were actually receiving more waste capacity.

“Those residents who are separating their organic waste into the new FOGO bin have noticed more space in their red bins as a result, which goes to show that good waste separation will produce lower general, red bin waste,” he said.

The FOGO bin will accept all garden waste, including trimmings, clippings and pruning; meat (including bones) and dairy; eggshells; seafood; leftover take away food; vegetable and fruit scraps; tissues, paper towels and shredded paper.

Cr Cook said Council would review the outcomes of the Trial after the 12-month period and determine what the service looks like moving forward across the region.

If residents find their red bins are still filling up fast, they are encouraged to contact Council’s Waste Team on 0417 416 223 or email fogo@lvrc.qld.gov.au