FOGO - your questions answered

This service is mandated by the Victorian Government's circular economy policy, 'Recycling Victoria'.

During recent community engagement for the 2025-29 Council Plan and 2025-26 budget preparation, the introduction of FOGO in the coming year was a clear theme.

This service will help reduce waste to landfill. Audits of bins show that up to 39% of red lid bin waste could be diverted away from landfill by use of the FOGO bin.

An added bonus is that costs for processing FOGO are lower than general landfill waste so everything we can divert saves money and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the State Government’s Circular Economy Policy, all Victorian councils must introduce food and garden organics (FOGO) collection for urban households and separate glass recycling collection.

This will mean a four-bin system will be introduced across the state. Councils must comply with these requirements in providing kerbside waste collection across Victoria.

As of the end of 2024, 53 of the 79 councils across Victoria are providing a FOGO service. All remaining councils need to provide this service to comply with legislative requirements.

It is planned that the FOGO service will commence in April 2026. This follows bin purchase, rollout and community education.

Rollout of the FOGO service requires thorough planning, bins and equipment to be purchased and delivered, consultation with Council’s waste contractor and preparation at the Portland Transfer Station. Additionally, this work can only commence once budget has been allocated in 2025-2026 by Council.

This process means that the service will commence operation in April 2026.

• Food and garden organics (green lid) — 240 Litre
• Mixed recycling (yellow lid) — 240 L
• General rubbish (red lid) — 120 L
• Kitchen caddy — 7 L

The cost of the service is included within your rates as a waste service charge. Only properties which receive the kerbside collection service are required to pay.

Costs will be included within Council’s 2025-2026 Budget. This includes the costs of bins and equipment, such as kitchen caddies and bin liners, along with all associated costs of providing the kerbside collection service.

It is proposed that the overall Waste Service Charge for 2025-2026 be set at $498.55.

The cost alone for the rollout and operation of the FOGO service in 2025-2026 is $83.87 per property, which is a component of the overall cost of the kerbside waste collection service provided.

A FOGO service offers several benefits, primarily related to environmental sustainability and resource recovery. These benefits include reducing landfill waste, minimising methane emissions from decomposing matter in landfills and using the material to create compost and other products.

The service will lead to cost savings for Council and ratepayers as sending less waste to landfill will mean reduced landfill fees and transport costs.

The introduction of the service will also promote community waste management education and increased recycling practices.

The cost reduction will not be immediate and will be influenced by a number of factors, including the amount waste reduction to landfill, the provision of a separated glass collection service, along with any future increase in costs associated with waste management. This includes potential increases that Council must pay within the EPA waste levy.

The main message is the more waste that can be diverted from landfill or recycled, the lower the waste costs will be for Council.

All properties located within designated areas across the Shire, primarily townships, will receive the FOGO service as part of their wider kerbside collection.

Properties outside of designated areas may apply to receive the kerbside collection service, subject to the approval of Council’s waste collection contractor based on factors including location, road access and adjoining properties.

Information and maps on designated areas can be found at Waste and Recycling Kerbside Collection | Glenelg Shire Council

The State Government requires all Victorian councils to introduce a FOGO service by 2030.

If you are currently within a designated area, you can’t opt out. The provision of the service is a legislative requirement.

The service is optional for rural properties outside of designated areas who are still on-route for waste collection. Information on option rural kerbside collection can be found at Waste and Recycling Kerbside Collection | Glenelg Shire Council

As a rural council with an area of more than 6,200 sq km, it is not feasible to provide a kerbside service to all properties.

Properties outside of designated areas may apply to receive the kerbside collection service, subject to the approval of Council’s waste collection contractor based on factors including location, road access and adjoining properties.

A drop-off service for FOGO will continue to be provided for a fee at transfer stations.

Organic material collected through the kerbside food and garden organics bin is taken to Portland Transfer Station for processing and handling, and then taken on further to a compost manufacturing company.

Home composting is a great sustainable option for recycling organic material. You can still compost at home and use the kerbside bin for items that may not be suitable for your home composting system such as citrus, meat and raw bones along with excess garden organics.

As part of Council’s waste transition, a waste education strategy will be prepared to support community to adopt proper waste and recycling practices. This will involve information through Council’s website, social media, brochures and videos, to help residents build understanding and support waste reduction initiatives.

We hope these FAQs answer your particular question(s). However, if you still have a query, please contact us at enquiry@glenelg.vic.gov.au or call 1300 453 635.