FOGO final stage estimates more than 12,500 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill each year

The City of Rockingham estimates more than 12,500 tonnes of organic waste will be diverted from landfill each year with the start roll-out of its FOGO bin change.

The Food Organics and Garden Organics initiative, set to begin June 30, is the final stage of the city’s three bin system brought in more than eight years ago to reduce the amount of waste being dumped in landfill.

Food scraps such as bread, cereal, meat and seafood – including meat bones and shells - coffee grounds, and fruit and veggies can be added to the green-lidded bin, which will be collected weekly.

Ahead of the change, the council has sent households a small kitchen caddy bin and compostable liners, along with FOGO guide.

City of Rockingham mayor Deb Hamblin described the service, which has already rolled out in more than 20 other local governments across WA as a transformational change.

A waste audit in 2024 found in several Rockingham suburbs, almost half of what was being put into red waste bins and headed for the dump was organic waste, such as food scraps and garden clippings.

One of the other major transformations of the incoming system is that red waste bins will be emptied fortnightly instead of weekly.

Yellow-lidded recycling bins will continue to be collected fortnightly.

Some households’ bin day may change as well.

FOGO bin contents are recycled into compost materials, such as mulch and soil conditioner, and reused in parks and gardens.

“The success of FOGO relies on everyone’s participation and together we can make a meaningful difference in how we manage our waste,” Ms Hamblin said.