By Jessica Micallef
Kitchen caddies are being delivered to about 14,000 homes ahead of Macedon Ranges council’s roll out of its new food organics and garden organics (FOGO) service.
The service, which will begin at the start of February, will allow residents to place all garden and food waste into the one bin.
Kyneton, Gisborne, Woodend, Mount Macedon, Macedon, Lancefield, Romsey and Riddells Creek residents have been contacted by the council and will this month receive a ‘kitchen caddy’, compostable caddy liners and an information pack including a collection calendar.
Garden bins will be known as FOGO bins and will be used for the new service. Residents in the rollout area who do not already have a garden bin will be provided with a new 240-litre bin with a lime green lid. FOGO bins will be collected weekly.
The council estimates about a third of the contents in the average household rubbish bin is food waste. FOGO is expected to reduce the amount of waste going into landfill.
FOGO will bring the total number of household bins to four per home, including a glass only bin (purple lid), recycling bin (yellow lid), rubbish and general waste bin (red or dark green lid) and FOGO bin (lime green lid).
Acting mayor Mandi Mees said the council had been working hard to find innovative solutions to the waste and recycling industry crisis.
“We will deliver a more sustainable and responsible waste collection service in 2020 through the introduction of this new four bin kerbside collection service,” she said.
“We know our community is committed to reducing waste and we thank you for your assistance while we continue to trial and implement solutions.”
FOGO will be phased in over the next five years, with majority of Macedon Ranges towns included in the rollout this year.
Bin collection days may change when the new service starts.
