Man with scrap vegetables putting into food and organic waste bin

This winter we’re encouraging everyone in Merri-bek to make the most of their weekly food and garden organics (FOGO) bin collection.

In addition to billboards, you may have seen posters and social media posts with messages about what does and doesn’t go in your FOGO bin.

Our 2024 waste audit showed that, on average, just over a third of the waste in household rubbish bins is organic waste, which could have been composted through the FOGO service, rather than sent to landfill.

Using your FOGO bin correctly means Veolia, our organics processor, can safely turn it into compost.

This high-quality compost can then be used by Victorian farmers, as well as delivered by Council to local community gardens.

What can go in the FOGO bin?

Many food and garden waste items can be placed in your FOGO bin.

These items should be placed loose in the bin and not in plastic or compostable bags:

Fruit and vegetable scraps
Meal leftovers (without packaging)
Mouldy bread
Meat, bones and seafood scraps
Used coffee grounds and loose tea leaves
Egg shells
Spoiled dairy products
Paper towel or newspaper (to line your kitchen caddy).

What can’t go in the FOGO bin?

Compostable or biodegradable bags
Garden waste or food waste in plastic bags
Food packaging (including containers, cling wrap, ties and fruit stickers)
Coffee cups and plastic plates
Plant pots
Tree stumps, soil and ash
Vacuum dust and hair (including pet hair)
Kitty litter, dog or cat poo
Nappies and baby wipes (even if labelled compostable)
Shredded paper (use this in your home compost bin or worm farm)

Why can’t residents use compostable bags?

Our organics processor, Veolia, requires residents not to use compostable bags.

Bagged waste can be a safety risk to people whose job it is to sort waste materials, particularly if incorrect or unsafe items are placed in the bag.

Veolia services most Councils in the north-west region of Melbourne, so we are not alone in being unable to accept them.

Residents are encouraged to use a paper bag, paper towel or newspaper to line their kitchen caddy. Or they can put food scraps in the FOGO bin loose.

Also, even compostable bags do not always breakdown fully in the rapid process used by Veolia, which means pieces of compostable bags can be seen in the compost and mulch products which is unwanted by farmers seeking high quality compost to use on their farms.

Anyone can use a FOGO bin

We’re encouraging all Merri-bek residents to learn about the correct use of their FOGO bin to support the broader community by sharing this information with neighbours, friends and local networks.

Together, we can improve the environmental benefits of this important service and stop valuable waste going to landfill.