A Queensland council has scored state government investment of more than $9.5 million to introduce organic waste collection as part of a drive to back local government FOGO services.

The funding will enable the City of Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, to deliver 116,000 kerbside organics bins to households across the LGA and introduce a phased FOGO collection system, the Queensland government says.

The first stage, to start operating in December, will see opt-out garden organics collection followed by a full FOGO collection service, subject to there being an appropriate FOGO processing facility.

The funding announcement comes after three Queensland councils participated in state-backed FOGO trials and an independent trial initiated by Ipswich City Council.

Lead up to full FOGO

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flanery, who says the local community has been calling for separate green waste bins for a long time, described the stage 1 garden organics service as an important first step in the lead up to full FOGO.

“FOGO is a resource recovery project with the potential to bring our region’s recycling rate from 45 per cent to over 60 per cent by adding a new lime green lidded bin for organic material made up of food and garden waste,” he said.

The Queensland government has set a target of halving the amount of food waste by 2023 and diverting 80 per cent of organic waste from landfill.

It is also committed to hitting a minimum organics rate of 70 per cent, environment minister Leanne Linard said.

“Organic waste can be turned into high value compost, mulch, and soil products that can be used for a range of things, like tree planting, soil improvement, and revegetation projects,” Ms Linard said.

“Through recycling, organic waste is put to good use, with the important nutrients and resources able to be reused and put back into the environment as compost.”

The Queensland government has committed a total of $15 million to roll out FOGO waste collection. This includes the delivery of 1 million new lime-green organics collection bins, household caddies, and harmonisation of bin lid colours.

It is also supporting the SEQ Waste Management Plan, which is a collaboration  between the SEQ Council of Mayors and the state government.

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