Three-bin FOGO system now in more than 200,000 WA households
- More than 200,000 WA households now have access to FOGO
- FOGO has facilitated recovery rates of up to 66 per cent across the 18 local government areas where it operates
- State and Commonwealth funding has supported FOGO rollout and WA's waste processing capacity
The State Government's vision for a harmonised three-bin Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service has celebrated a major milestone after it was rolled out to more than 200,000 Western Australian households.
FOGO has been rolled out across 18 local governments - with a further 13 committed to rolling out the system.
Waste recovery through FOGO has increased from 11,000 tonnes in 2017, to more than 65,000 tonnes last year. Star performers during 2021-22 include the City of Albany, which reached an overall recycling rate of 65 per cent, and the City of Melville, at 66 per cent.
Per-household funding to local governments increased this year as part of a $20 million commitment to support local governments through the 'Better Bins Plus: Go FOGO' program. Applications for that program have been open year-round since July.
In addition, $11.25 million of joint State and Commonwealth funding was awarded earlier this year to three facilities in metropolitan Perth, to bolster their processing capacity by 275,000 tonnes under the Food Waste for Healthy Soils scheme.
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"The recycling of organic waste from households is the most impactful step Western Australians can take towards meeting household waste targets and avoiding associated greenhouse gas emissions.
"We know households want FOGO, so I would encourage those councils yet to sign up, to get involved."