Optional FOGO would ‘work better’ instead of forcing households into it

Households should be able to opt into the FOGO system rather than be forced, according to the CEO of a recycling company.

The three-bin FOGO system is being progressively rolled out across Perth and Peel local governments as part of the State Government’s waste avoidance and resource recovery strategy 2030.

It has received backlash in some parts of the community, with complaints about the size of the bins and how often they are collected.

City of Rockingham residents recently held a special electors meeting which called for a return to weekly collections from fortnightly pick-ups after complaints including maggots spilling from lids, foul smells and rubbish dumped.

Its vote has yet to be considered by the full council. Mayor Lorna Buchan has warned that returning to weekly collections would come at a “significant and ongoing” cost to ratepayers.

Greg Watts, CEO of C-Wise, a WA organic composting business that works with FOGO, said people should be allowed to opt in to organic waste collection rather than being told how to manage their waste.

He said this had sparked “open revolt” in Rockingham and had “failed badly” in Bunbury.

Mr Watts claimed the State Government had forced FOGO on the City of Rockingham without checking there was the infrastructure to support it.

“When you force a system on to people who didn’t ask for it and have no confidence that their effort is making a difference, you don’t get better recycling outcomes,” Mr Watts said.

“You get anger, contamination and a community that has lost faith in the system and in the governments that imposed it on them.”

He said people who chose to separate their kitchen and garden waste were more likely to do it properly.

“This behaviour has a ripple effect. A street where half the households are enthusiastic FOGO participants tends to bring the other half along far better than any government mandate ever will,” he said.

“Change that is chosen lasts.”

Mr Watts said allowing people to opt in also made “economic sense” for councils.

“Instead of spending millions delivering bins to every household in a local government area, councils supply bins only to households that want them,” he said.

“Collection routes are more efficient. Processing volumes are more predictable.

“The organic waste collected is cleaner and more valuable and councils can still meet their government mandates on organic waste diversion but with better outcomes, lower contamination and lower costs.”

He said he had been in the organic recycling business for 25 years and wanted FOGO to succeed.

“Returning organic carbon to the soil is one of the most important things we can do for the future of soil health, crop quality and food production in this country,” Mr Watts said.

Ms Buchan previously said she understood change could be challenging but the city had to provide an effective service for the broader community.

“As residents become familiar with separating food waste and garden organics, many are finding their red‑bin waste decreases over time,” she said.

“We encourage residents to keep thinking about how much waste their household produces, and to engage in conversations about waste services in a respectful and constructive way, both online and in person.”