Dispose of your Food and Garden Organics (FOGO)

As outlined in our Don’t Waste It! Waste Management Strategy (2022-25) we are expanding our FOGO services in 2023 to ensure that all households are able to divert their FOGO materials from the garbage stream.

We are delivering a hybrid waste model where some residents who have space for additional bins will be allocated a kerbside (FOGO) bin and others who don’t have the space, will instead have access to a communal service, enabling them to drop off FOGO materials at communal recycling collection points in local parks and reserves and other central community locations.

Throughout January 2023 we delivered 120L kerbside FOGO bins to eligible stand-alone houses and townhouses and the FOGO recycling service started week commencing 23 January 2023. Bins were delivered with a FOGO Brochure including information about the service. If you live in a house or townhouse and didn't receive a kerbside FOGO bin but would like one, please lodge a request through My Port Phillip. 

FOGO bins are collected from kerbsides weekly on the same night as garbage and mixed recycling bin collection. The cost of the new kerbside FOGO service is $88.10 for this financial year and will appear on your rates notice.

We are currently planning for the rollout of FOGO bins to flats and apartments. Residents of eligible flats and apartments within the City of Port Phillip will receive a FOGO bin from July 2023.

Caddies can be collected from any of our five library branches: Albert Park, Emerald Hill, Middle Park, Port Melbourne and St Kilda.

If you have accessibility requirements that prevent you from collecting a FOGO caddy please contact ASSIST on 03 9209 6777 to discuss delivery options.

Compostable liners

You don't need to use liners to dispose of your food waste. However, if you would like to use caddy liners you must use lime green certified compostable liners (certified to AS 4736 or AS 5810). These can be purchased from most supermarkets, major hardware stores or from online retailers, for example:

• Biogone
• My Eco Bag
• Compost-A-Pak

Using non-certified compostable liners will result in your food waste being diverted to landfill as it cannot be composted. 

Food and organic waste we accept

We only accept food organic waste that can be made into safe compost. If you would like a reminder of what can go in your FOGO bin, please download our FOGO poster.

Reducing your food waste 

Food and garden waste makes up around 46 per cent of the waste our households send to landfill, and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is approximately 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Reducing the amount of food waste we produce is an important step in helping our environment. 

We recommend planning your meals and checking your fridge for existing groceries before your weekly shop to reduce food waste. To help you plan your meals we have created a meal planner and shopping list for you to use. Click here to download your meal planner and shopping list.  

Processing your FOGO – step by step

The FOGO Cycle

Food and organic waste goes through a 6-step process to become compost:

1. Collection: FOGO materials are collected and taken to Cleanaway's South East Organics Facility in Dandenong South.
2. Remove contamination: Contamination is hand-removed – things that shouldn’t be in the FOGO bin are taken out.
3. Shredding and stacking: FOGO materials are shredded then stacked into long piles called windrows, which are kept moist and turned regularly for 16 to 20 weeks.
4. Composting: These materials are composted at 50 to 70 degrees to destroy weeds and pathogens. Lab testing ensures the compost complies with standards.
5. Screening and grading: The composted FOGO is screened into required sizes. Different grades of compost are required for different applications.
6. End product: Your processed FOGO is ready for use! This compost is full of nutrients and used to rehabilitate land throughout Victoria.