Borough to stop burying organic waste

FOOD waste in the Borough of Queensliffe will go into green-lidded bins as of August this year when a new kerbside waste collection service is introduced.

The Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) system is being rolled out across Victoria in a bid to divert the waste stream from landfill, instead turning it into compost.

The regions’ councils are currently in the process of negotiating with Barwon Water to collectively send FOGO waste for processing, most likely to its existing Black Rock facility.

As of July this year the Victorian Government will be taxing this waste stream at $125.90 a tonne, and coupled with the results of a recent landfill bin audit of borough residents that showed almost 40 per cent of the contents was food waste, mayor Ross Ebbels is keen to reduce unnecessary waste.

“By composting our food and green waste, we’re avoiding expensive landfill taxes and the greenhouse gases emitted from organic matter when it’s buried in a landfill,” Cr Ebbels said.

“I’m excited to start processing our food waste in a way that’s better for the budget, better for the planet and better for our community.”

As part of the rollout, food and green waste will be collected weekly, and fortnightly landfill and recycling collection will be introduced.

Households will receive information and equipment deliveries in the coming months, including a benchtop kitchen caddy, a larger 240L recycling bin, and information sheets on how to sort waste using the new system.

Council expects kerbside collections of food waste will begin in August, with households to be notified of their first collection date in the coming months.