FOGO FAQ's

FOGO stands for Food Organics, Garden Organics and refers to the weekly collection of food scraps and garden organics which is turned into compost, soil conditioner and/or mulch.

FOGO is part of the statewide 'Better Bins' initiative as part of the State Waste Strategy, which aims to reduce waste through a multi-pronged circular approach including strategies to:

• Avoid - help people generate less waste to start with.
• Recover - help people recycle more and reduce contamination. And to ensure more value is extracted from waste.
• Protect - ensure waste is managed responsibly to protect the environment.

"If it didn't live or grow, it's not FOGO!"

As our population grows, so does the amount of waste we generate. This a problem we need to tackle.

The WA State Government requires all local governments in Perth and Peel to move to FOGO by 2025. The City's  adoption of FOGO is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce waste and reduce greenhouse gases. Click here to view the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.

FOGO has already been successfully introduced in several local government areas and others are joining this sustainability initiative.

The FOGO bin service will divert a significant amount of organic waste from landfill, which will then be recycled into compost. The rollout of FOGO was supported by the Government of Western Australia and the Waste Authority through the Better Bins program as well as the Better Bins Plus: GO FOGO Program.

Organic waste is a problem in landfill as it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Turning it into compost reduces the impact on the environment and allows waste to become a usable product.

Existing landfill sites are also nearing capacity and creating new sites can cause significant detrimental effects through land clearing, loss of habitat for local wildlife, and potential groundwater and soil contamination from the leaching of heavy metals and chemicals.

The Western Australian State Government have set targets for 75% of waste diverted from landfill by 2030. The new three-Bin kerbside system incorporating the FOGO bin will help us achieve these targets. 

The City of Kalamunda began rolling FOGO out to households from the 2nd September 2024. The service is being delivered to all households with an existing domestic rubbish and recycling bin service.

If you have found that you have missed the FOGO rollout (where your 240L general waste bin would have had a lid swap to become a lime-green lidded FOGO bin and a new 140L red-lidded general waste bin would have been delivered with a kitchen caddy and set of liners inside), please contact the Waste Services Team on 9257 9999.

Those that already had a two-bin kerbside collection with wheelie bins, such as single houses, grouped dwellings or villas, multi-unit developments (MUDs) moved to FOGO in September/October 2024.

Commercial properties that currently receive a waste service with the City won't receive FOGO.

The average rubbish bin contains about 50-60% organic waste that can be composted. All food waste, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, dairy products, eggshells, bread, pasta, cereals, tea leaves, coffee grinds and table scraps can be put in the FOGO bin. Garden waste includes lawn clippings, garden prunings, leaves, weeds and flowers.

An easy way to remember is "If it didn't live or grow, it's not FOGO".

For a more comprehensive list of what can be accepted, visit the A-Z for the 3-bin system at Recycle Right.

Lime-green lidded FOGO bin (WEEKLY):

All food organics including:

• raw and cooked meat
• bread
• fruits
• vegetables
• dairy
• bones
• shells (eggs, seafood)
• garden organics

The contents of this bin will be composted so it’s important to keep plastic and glass out of this bin.

All food waste is to go into your FOGO bin either in a compostable liner or as it is. Please make sure all food packaging is removed and placed in the correct bin, as any plastic/foam packaging will contaminate the end product.

Biodegradable or any other plastic bags/liners are not to go into your FOGO bin. Only compostable liners are to be used as they will break down naturally in the composting process.

Yellow lidded recycling bin (FORTNIGHTLY):

Recyclable materials including:

• Paper (excluding shredded paper)
• Clean cardboard (flattened)
• Glass (clean and empty)
• Plastic containers and plastic bottles (clean and empty)
• Aluminium cans (clean and empty)
• Steel cans (clean and empty)

  All items should be clean, dry and empty with lids removed and placed in the bin loosely.

The following items should NOT be placed into your yellow-lidded recycling bin:

• Plastic bags and plastic film
• Nappies
• Meat trays and polystyrene
• Clothing and textiles
• Garden and food waste
• Gas bottles and aerosol cans
• Electronic waste and batteries
• Ropes, cables and hose
• Recycling in bags

Red-lidded general waste bin (FORTNIGHTLY):

General rubbish items that cannot be composted or recycled, such as:

• Nappies
• Hygiene items
• Polystyrene
• Plastic bags
• Soft plastics
• Ropes, straps and hoses

The following items should NOT be placed into your red-lidded general waste bin:

• Organic material (food scraps and garden organics)
• Recyclables
• Hazardous items such as batteries, aerosols and e-waste

For a full A-Z list of what goes in what bin, visit Waste and Recycling Options A-Z in the Waste and Recycling Guide

A general ‘rule of thumb’ is that you will always be putting two bins out. FOGO will go out every week and your general waste and recycling bin will alternate.

When your new kitchen caddy is delivered, inside it will be the Waste & Recycling Guide with the map and calendar to assist with working out whether you are to put your general waste or recycling bin out with your FOGO bin.

Note: there will now be two calendars, depending on whether you are recycling area one or two.

No. They should all be placed in the general waste bin. Emptying the poo down the toilet and securing the nappy in a plastic bag will minimise odours.

Research has shown that nappies smell progressively worse for four days then do not smell any worse (or better) after that. So, a rubbish bin with nappies in it smells no worse after 14 days than it does after 7 days.

There are some simple measures you can take to minimise odour:

• If possible, tip the contents of the nappy down the toilet before disposing.
• Wrap the nappy into itself using the tabs and seal it tightly in a biodegradable nappy sack.
• Use a scented bin bag.
  
• Store your red lid general waste bin in the shade and out of direct sunlight if possible.
• Make sure your general waste bin lid closes properly and there are no cracks in the bin sides. If your bin is broken or cracked, please contact the City to request a repair or replacement.
• You may consider using general odour neutralizing products in your red lid bin, including cat litter, crystals, eucalyptus/mint oil or bicarbonate of soda.
• Place some odour neutralising products in the foot of a stocking and hang it on the inside of the red lid bin, tying the stocking to the bin lid handle.
• Consider using modern cloth nappies or reusable pads and menstrual cups. See Switch Your Thinking's Guide to Modern Cloth Nappies for more information.
• Consider a specially-designed nappy bin which wraps the nappies as they are placed in the bin.

If you are finding that your personal circumstances are resulting in your general waste bin being overfull, please contact us on 9257 9999 or email fogo@kalamunda.wa.gov.au so we can help with troubleshooting.

These types of plastics are soft and can easily by scrunched up into a ball. They include items such as:

• Plastic bags
• Lids on microwaveable ready meals (plastic film)
• Sweet/lolly wrappers and chip packets
• Cereal bags

These items can be placed in your red-lidded general waste bin. Cling film (cling wrap) can be placed in your red-lidded general waste bin.

If you are unsure about any other items and which bin to put it in check out Materials A-Z – Recycle Right.

If you do use bags, they must be compostable. You don’t have to use bags – you can put your food and garden organics straight in the bin.

Households were supplied with a roll of 8L compostable bags (150 pack) and a 7L kitchen caddy at the start of the service to help your household use your FOGO bin. More liners are available at the Walliston Transfer Station, Administration Building and the Forrestfield, Kalamunda and High Wycombe Libraries - they are available to purchase at cost price. See our fees and charges page for more information.

Ensure your compostable bags have one of the following symbols for Australian Standards for compostable bags: 

This means that some supermarket compostable bags that are in the fruit and vegetable section are also suitable to re-use as your caddy liner.

No! Plastic bags contaminate the compost. Degradable and biodegradable bags are not suitable for composting either – the bags need to be compostable to break down in the organics facility and not contain the chemicals found in plastic. Please make sure they have the Australian Standard for compostable bags logo (pictured below).

Biodegradable bags still contain chemicals that will contaminate the compost.

Yes, your caddy can be placed in the bottom shelf of your dishwasher. Don’t forget to pop the lid off the caddy to avoid damaging the writing on the lid.

The FOGO bin will be collected weekly, so it shouldn’t smell more than your rubbish bin would now.

Your general waste bin will be collected fortnightly. Most things that cause smells in the bin can be put in the FOGO bin, with a couple of exceptions, such as disposable nappies.

You can use compostable bags within the kitchen caddy and you may also consider layering food waste with dry materials, like lawn clippings which may also help. Freeze particularly odorous food scraps, like seafood, and put them in the FOGO bin the night before collection.

Tips to reduce smells and insects:

• Use the compostable caddy liners before placing in the kerbside bin.
• Store bins in the shade or out of direct sunlight.
• Put your FOGO bin out for collection every week, even if it's not full.
• Put layers of dry materials such as lawn clippings in between layers of kitchen waste to absorb any smell.
• Keep food scraps that tend to smell, such as fish bones in the freezer, until the night before bin collection.
• Clean your bin with hot soapy water.
• Sprinkle baking soda, vinegar or clove oil into the bottom of the bin (when empty).
  

The waste will be taken to our FOGO Processor who will turn the material into soil conditioner, mulch and/or compost.

Ensuring that it the FOGO waste is processed correctly and that it is distributed as compost is a priority for the City. Stay tuned for more details.

The infographic below summarises what happens to our waste:

If your bin is damaged, it will be replaced as part of the FOGO rollout. If it has been damaged since, contact our service provider, Cleanaway on 9449 3332 to discuss the matter further.

If your caddy is damaged, you can purchase a replacement at the Walliston Transfer Station, Administration Building or the Kalamunda, Forrestfield or High Wycombe libraries. See our fees and charges page for the cost.

Changes in global markets and tighter restrictions on recyclables now mean that some materials previously accepted have now been excluded to create a standard approach to recycling across WA. This will help everyone better understand what goes in what bin regardless of what area you live in. The aim of these changes is to reduce contamination and create cleaner recyclables for processing.

There are three main changes to what you can now put into your recycling yellow-lidded bin. Aerosols, soft plastics and meat trays are no longer to be placed in the yellow-lidded bin.

• Aerosol cans can be taken to your nearest household hazardous waste drop off location for recycling https://m.recycleright.wa.gov.au/locator/hhw-disposal.html or as a last resort place aerosols in your general waste bin – when doing so, make sure that you follow the instructions on the can on how to empty the aerosol.
• Meat trays should be placed in your general waste bin due to contamination and the mixed use of materials used to make them.
• Soft plastics (scrunchable) can be placed in your general waste bin.

No, there will be no size or lid changes to your recycling bin and you can still recycle the same things as before.

Recycle these items:

• Plastic containers & bottles (clean, empty, no lids).
• Aluminium & steel cans (clean & empty).
• Paper (not shredded) & cardboard (flattened).
• Glass bottles & jars (clean & empty).
  

If your recycling bin is full, ensure you are sorting your waste correctly into each of your bins to maximise available space.

Fit more in your recycling bin by:

• crushing boxes and putting them along the inside edge of the bin
• removing lids and crushing plastic bottles and cans

Please ensure recyclables are loose in the bin and not in plastic bags. Recyclables tied up in plastic bags are considered as contamination.

No. Once rolled out, the 3-bin FOGO service will become the standard collection service within the City and we encourage all households to participate to the best of their ability. Under the State Government’s Waste Strategy 2030, all Councils will need to move to a three bin FOGO system by 2025.

You are welcome to contact us and discuss any concerns or restrictions that might inhibit you from fully participating in the 3-bin FOGO system. We will provide plenty of support and information to resident to assist with a smooth transition. If you have special circumstances, please contact us for further information.

No, but we audit the contents of the bins when they arrive at their respective processing facilities. We will keep you updated with our achievements!

The City is not currently offering a FOGO bin service to commercial properties in the City of Kalamunda.

Please contact us if you have any questions about your Commercial property's waste services.

Yes, there will be a change from fortnightly total collection of 720L of waste to 860L. See the table below that helps to explain the change:

No, there will be an increase in fortnightly collection from 720L to 860L. See the graphic below that demonstrates this.

You’ll be doing a great thing for the environment. Plus, over time, you will save money. In future, waste will cost a lot more as taxes on landfill increase so by diverting organic waste from landfill, it won’t cost the City as much, saving you money in the long term.

Your FOGO bin can help you with the items that you don’t put in your compost such as weed seeds, excess lawn clippings and leaves, meat, bones and dairy products.  Some people don’t like to put eggshells in their compost as they take a long time to break down.

Compost heaps need the right blend of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ materials so if you’ve got excess of one type, you can add it to the green bin, knowing that it will still be composted.

You can also use your FOGO bin for green waste such as leaves, branches, honkey nuts, gum leaves and garden materials. Branches that are too thick for the compost heap can also be put in the organics bin.

Worms do not usually like onions, citrus, eggshells and potato peels or too much bread. You can put the things they don’t like in the organics bin. Feel free to continue burying your organic waste as it is great for adding nutrients to the soil. If there are some things that you do not bury, they can be put in the FOGO bin.

Chickens are great at turning organic matter into fertilizer. There are some things that chickens won’t eat so they can be put in the FOGO bin.

You will still only be placing two bins out on your verge for collection each week. Each week you will place your FOGO bin on the verge and the general waste and recycling bin will be put out on alternate weeks.

The only time you will put three bins out is in the week of Christmas and New Year, as we will be providing an extra collection service over the two weeks.

The new general waste bin is a slightly smaller 140 litre size with an additional footprint of approximately 50cm. If you are still struggling with space on your property, please contact us.  

Please ensure you separate organic food waste and place it in the FOGO bin and separate recyclable items and place them in the recycle bin or recycle them appropriately. Containers for Change accept a range of beverage containers.

Refer to our Household Hazardous Waste page to view where residents can drop household hazardous waste, e-waste and bulk waste.

If you have special needs, please contact us so we can assist you.

• Put your bin out on your usual bin day.
• After the bin has been emptied, the general waste bin will have a lid swap to a lime-green lidded bin. This becomes the 240L FOGO lime-green lidded bin.
• DO NOT bring your dark-green lidded bin in until the lid has been swapped to a lime-green lid (could be as late as 6pm).
• A 140L red-lidded General Waste bin will be delivered.
• Inside the smaller red-lidded bin, there will be a Kitchen Caddy, a set of compostable liners (150 pack) and more information including the Waste & Recycling Guide with the Calendar included in the guide.
• There will be no change to the 240L Recycling Bin.
• You can then use your new bins and kitchen caddy straight away.
• The following week, you can put out your 240L lime-green lidded FOGO and yellow-lidded Recycling bin – starting the new cycle of bin collections. To double-check, you can refer to the Area One or Area Two calendar in your Waste & Recycling Guide.
  

• Keep an eye out for your FOGO postcard in the mail that will let you know which week we will be coming to your street to swap the lids and deliver your new bin.

There have been no changes to the skip bin allocation due to FOGO. Residents can still access skip bins, see our skip bin page for more information.

There have been no changes to transfer station visits - residents have unlimited access to the Walliston Transfer Station for green waste. Entry pass and valid ID still needs to be provided to enter.

If you have recently moved in, check there is a kitchen caddy and set of liners left behind - if not, contact us.

The kitchen caddy has a 7L capacity and the liners are 8L. Line the caddy with the liners - or you don't have to use the liners, you can use the caddy as it is.

• Add your food scraps and other compostable materials (like coffee grounds and tea leaves).
• Once the caddy or liner is full, empty the contents into your FOGO bin (lime-green lid).
• Return your addy to the kitchen and start again!
• Your caddy can be placed in the dishwasher - just take the lid off first so that the hot-stamping doesn't fade.

However full, please place your FOGO bin out for weekly collection on your usual day.

Yes, pet poo/animal droppings and organic waste (for example hay from cleaning out your rabbit hutch) can be put in your lime green-lid FOGO bin. If putting dog poo in the bin, please ensure you have used a compostable bin bag.

Kitty litter cannot go in the FOGO bin.

This message could potentially change in the future so please refer to Recycle Right's A-Z for the 3-bin system for up-to-date answers.

If your bin hasn't arrived on the date that you expected, you may need to check your letterbox to see if a courtesy card has been left there.

Otherwise, please call Cleanaway's FOGO team on (08) 6557 6969 or email us at fogo@kalamunda.wa.gov.au. 

You can order another kitchen caddy and/or pack of liners. You can also purchase an additional FOGO bin if you find you have a lot of food organics and garden organics - see our Fees & Charges page for pricing. 

Kitchen caddies and liners are available at:

• Walliston Transfer Station
• City of Kalamunda Administration
• High Wycombe Library
• Kalamunda Library
• Forrestfield Library

You can also purchase kitchen caddy liners (at cost) at the above locations if you have run out.

• Keep your kitchen caddy closed to keep flies out (flies are attracted to food, especially meat and seafood scraps – if possible keep them in the freezer until you put your FOGO bin out).
• Some people even keep their caddy in their fridge, if room – keeping your caddy in a cool, dry place can help prevent flies from finding it.
• Empty often – especially when adding meat, fish and dairy products.
• Choose what works for you – if the caddy doesn’t suit, an old ice cream container under the sink or taking food straight out to the FOGO bin may work.
• Wrap meat and bones in paper and then into a compostable bag (and place in freezer if possible).
• Avoid excess moisture - add your paper towel, tissues, paper towel rolls into the caddy/bin as they may help absorb the moisture.
• Sprinkle with bicarb soda to help neutralise smells and soak up any liquids.
• Don’t overfill liners – leave enough space to tie them off before you place them in the FOGO bin.
• Make sure you often clean and dry out your caddy and rinse your FOGO bin when you can.
• Add a natural deterrent to your rinsed FOGO bin such as citronella or tea tree oil (these are natural insect deterrents).
• Place your pet waste into a compostable poo bag or wrap in paper.
• Don’t miss a collection day – even if your bin isn’t full, place it out on the kerbside for your weekly collection.
• Have a chat with your family to check you all agree on the system you’re using.

• Mow lawns when they are dry (wet grass is heavier than dry).
• Ensure leaf matter and clippings are dry.
• Aerate the FOGO from time to time to release moisture.
• Follow the 'allowed' and 'not allowed' in the FOGO bin guides.
• Shake soil off all weeds and unwanted plants (no sand in FOGO).
• Don't add large limbs or trunks from trees and shrubs.

Waste Sorted resources explaining FOGO are available in the following languages. (Click on the language to access the resource).

• Cantonese
• Chinese (simplified)
• French
• Hindi
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Macedonian
• Punjabi
• Tagalog
• Vietnamese

This is a question that’s asked a lot, and the main reason is the significant costs that would have to be passed on to Ratepayers through the Waste Services Charge annually.

Council was successful in receiving over $1Million in funding to assist with the FOGO 3-bin rollout and it was linked to Council introducing a smaller 140L red-lidded general waste bin collected fortnightly, this would have to be re-paid.

As well, the City’s waste contractor advises that to move to a weekly general waste bin collection they would need to dedicate an additional 2 ½ trucks permanently to the contract and they would need at least 12 months lead-time to source these new trucks and staff etc., this cost is also substantial.

Already the Community has really embraced FOGO by reducing significantly the 20,000 tonnes of waste that annually went to landfill pre-FOGO and we are now on track for it to be as low as 8,000 tonnes this year. The cost to process FOGO is significantly cheaper than the ever-increasing cost of landfill (which includes the State Governments Landfill levy that increases each July). Reversing this positive trend and not separating our waste would have a big impact because the incentive to do the right thing is removed and the City would have to pass on the additional cost to landfill greater volumes of general waste, this is by far the greatest imposition to move to weekly collections.

However, the City understands that in some instances i.e. large families, medical conditions, illness, babies etc. that the FOGO introduction may have been difficult and disruptive, with some households requiring additional volume, the City has put in place the following options to assist.

The City does offer ratepayers the opportunity to pay for additional bins (rates as per 2024/2025 fees and charges):

• 140L red lidded general waste bin collected fortnightly $245 per annum.
• 240L lime green lidded general waste bin collected weekly $230 per annum.
• 240L yellow lidded recycling bin collected fortnightly $185 per annum.

Consequently, Council has resolved that the City investigate and present back on options in which it may be able to change the system (whilst upholding our funding conditions & contractual terms), Officers have been investigating such options, reviewing other Councils experiences, looking for options that do not have a big impost on ratepayers, by looking at ways to define indicative costs and provide more cost certainty without imposing significant costs on all City of Kalamunda ratepayers.

If you find that you’re having difficulty managing your waste, please see the links to the fact sheets to assist you or contact us on 9257 9999 to speak directly with a Waste Educator.

This financial year (2025/2026) City of Kalamunda residents you can collect up to 2 x free rolls (75 in a pack) of the compostable caddy liners. 

The allocation of 2x free liners applies to those properties that pay for a Standard Residential Full Service. That is, properties with additional bin services are not entitled to additional free liners, however they may purchase more liners at cost. For example, if there is a granny flat (and it has an additional bin), the granny flat doesn't receive the free liners.

• City of Kalamunda Administration 

• Walliston Transfer Station 

• High Wycombe Library 

• Forrestfield Library 

• Kalamunda Library 

There are a number of locations where you can collect the caddy liners and kitchen caddies. The table below indicates where you can go: