State officialises new rules when it comes to rubbish! Are you ready for the changes?
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Waste management systems in Australia have gone so far over the years.
From manually disposing of rubbish back in the day down to the marvel of hydraulic arms on garbage trucks, Aussies find a way to get rid of rubbish efficiently and responsibly.
Residents of one state have been gearing up for a significant shift in how they dispose of their household scraps, and some raised their concerns.
New South Wales took a bold step towards sustainability by passing 'landmark legislation' that could revolutionise kerbside collection for homes and businesses.
Australia generates a staggering 75 million tonnes of waste annually.
NSW alone faced several challenges in waste disposal as landfill sites were nearing their capacity.
Some landfills could also run out of space by 2030.
This looming crisis spurred the government into action, which led to the introduction of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bins.
FOGO was designed to divert food scraps and garden waste from the traditional landfill-bound rubbish bin into a separate collection stream.
Materials from food and garden organics are then transformed into nutrient-rich compost.
This compost can then be used for public parks, sporting fields, and agricultural lands.
The NSW government's initiative should reroute one million tonnes of organic waste from landfills to composting facilities yearly.
Rolling out FOGO bins could become a mandatory practice for households by July 2030.
Businesses and institutions, however, need to jump on board sooner.
These establishments need to comply with the new rules by July next year.
This new system should then be a familiar sight at supermarkets, pubs, cafes, universities, schools, hotels, and hospitals across the state.
According to the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), less than half of NSW's 128 councils started offering FOGO bins.
Yet, with many inner-city councils adopting the program, approximately 69 per cent of households in the state should now have access to FOGO composting bins.
The urgency of the situation was further underscored by the fact that up to 40 per cent of regular bin waste consists of discarded food.
Gary Smith, CEO of BioPak and board member of Compost Connect, highlighted the environmental impact of this waste.
'That's what's doing damage in landfills. That's what's going into our environment, under the ground and creating methane,' Mr Smith stated.
'If we can divert that, that's a huge win.'
The journey to mandated FOGO bins also faced challenges.
In 2022, NSW councils were caught off guard by new EPA rules regarding green bin contents.
Additionally, there have been calls to adhere more strictly to the rules after shocking discoveries—such as a deceased dog and a grenade—were found in waste streams.
'We cannot kick this can down the road any longer,' NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe stated.
She emphasised that the new FOGO laws should make NSW a national leader in tackling food waste.
To ensure the program's successful rollout, the NSW government allocated $81 million to assist councils in making the transition to FOGO by 2030.
This funding should support the provision of bins, kitchen caddies, liners, contamination audits, community education programs, and staffing.
So, are you ready to join the FOGO movement? Share your thoughts about these changes with us in the comments below.
From manually disposing of rubbish back in the day down to the marvel of hydraulic arms on garbage trucks, Aussies find a way to get rid of rubbish efficiently and responsibly.
Residents of one state have been gearing up for a significant shift in how they dispose of their household scraps, and some raised their concerns.
New South Wales took a bold step towards sustainability by passing 'landmark legislation' that could revolutionise kerbside collection for homes and businesses.
Australia generates a staggering 75 million tonnes of waste annually.
NSW alone faced several challenges in waste disposal as landfill sites were nearing their capacity.
Some landfills could also run out of space by 2030.
This looming crisis spurred the government into action, which led to the introduction of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bins.
FOGO was designed to divert food scraps and garden waste from the traditional landfill-bound rubbish bin into a separate collection stream.
Materials from food and garden organics are then transformed into nutrient-rich compost.
This compost can then be used for public parks, sporting fields, and agricultural lands.
The NSW government's initiative should reroute one million tonnes of organic waste from landfills to composting facilities yearly.
Rolling out FOGO bins could become a mandatory practice for households by July 2030.
Businesses and institutions, however, need to jump on board sooner.
These establishments need to comply with the new rules by July next year.
This new system should then be a familiar sight at supermarkets, pubs, cafes, universities, schools, hotels, and hospitals across the state.
According to the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), less than half of NSW's 128 councils started offering FOGO bins.
Yet, with many inner-city councils adopting the program, approximately 69 per cent of households in the state should now have access to FOGO composting bins.
The urgency of the situation was further underscored by the fact that up to 40 per cent of regular bin waste consists of discarded food.
Gary Smith, CEO of BioPak and board member of Compost Connect, highlighted the environmental impact of this waste.
'That's what's doing damage in landfills. That's what's going into our environment, under the ground and creating methane,' Mr Smith stated.
'If we can divert that, that's a huge win.'
The journey to mandated FOGO bins also faced challenges.
In 2022, NSW councils were caught off guard by new EPA rules regarding green bin contents.
Additionally, there have been calls to adhere more strictly to the rules after shocking discoveries—such as a deceased dog and a grenade—were found in waste streams.
'We cannot kick this can down the road any longer,' NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe stated.
She emphasised that the new FOGO laws should make NSW a national leader in tackling food waste.
To ensure the program's successful rollout, the NSW government allocated $81 million to assist councils in making the transition to FOGO by 2030.
This funding should support the provision of bins, kitchen caddies, liners, contamination audits, community education programs, and staffing.
