Published on Tuesday, 23 August 2022 at 7:19:22 AM
The Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) kerbside collection trial is seeing more green waste than ever before being disposed of in the lime green lidded bins.
Following Council’s decision in May to extend the trial for another 12 months and ramp up the engagement with the 500 participants, the number of people presenting their bins for collection has gone up and contamination levels have dropped considerably.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said ongoing education and direct feedback to participants on FOGO separation was making all the difference.
“In the last couple of months we’ve ramped up our communications with participants about what they are throwing into their FOGO bins and its working as nearly all of them are now separating their waste correctly,” he said.
“Unfortunately, about 5 percent of households in the trial still don’t understand the difference between FOGO waste and general rubbish and/or not prepared to separate their waste correctly.
“For those participants, if this doesn’t improve we will be forced to take away their FOGO bins.”
FOGO participants have been given feedback on their separation efforts via bin tags. On collection days, City Officers visually inspect FOGO bins placed at the kerb before they are collected and place coloured tags on the bins with feedback on the contents.
A green tag means they did a great job, a grey tag means there are a few issues and bins that are contaminated are taped shut. Participants who have their bin taped shut three times will be removed from the trial.
“We really want the trial to be a success and we are working hard with participants so that we can reduce the volume of organic waste going to landfill,” Mayor Van Styn added.
“If we can get this to work, Council will consider adding more households to the trial.”
For more information on the trial follow the CGG FOGO Trial Facebook page or visit the City’s website here
Picture Caption: FOGO Bin with green tag indicating the household is doing a great job at separating FOGO waste from general household rubbish.
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