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 will provide this service using a hybrid model:

• Properties with space for additional bins will be allocated a kerbside FOGO bin.
• Properties that don’t have the space can take their FOGO materials to their local communal FOGO hub. Communal hubs are located throughout the municipality in local parks, reserves and other central community locations. For more information see Communal FOGO recycling hubs below.

FOGO bin rollout

Houses and townhouses

In January 2023 we delivered 120L kerbside FOGO bins to eligible stand-alone houses and townhouses. Bins were delivered with a FOGO Brochure including information about the service. 

Apartments and unit blocks

In light of recent kerbside collection issues, we are currently revising our rollout schedule for FOGO to apartments and unit blocks. Once we have finalised our plans, we will communicate these here and via other Council channels. We thank you for your patience and encourage you to use the communal FOGO hubs in the meantime. There is no FOGO charge associated with the service for apartments and unit blocks as the bins are shared between residents.

Kerbside collection schedule

FOGO bins will be collected from the kerbside weekly, on the same night as garbage and mixed recycling bins.

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.