Parramatta set to hit go on FOGO

City of Parramatta is preparing to roll out its new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) waste collection service later this year, to help divert 85% of the City’s landfill waste by 2038. 

The new service, which will come into effect in November, includes:

• A 240-litre green lid FOGO bin for food scraps and garden waste that will be collected weekly
• An 80-litre red lid garbage bin (previously 140 litres) for general waste collected weekly
• A 240-litre yellow lid recycling bin collected fortnightly.

The new service will allow residents to recycle their food scraps in a FOGO-friendly bin picked up weekly and give residents an additional 120 litres in overall bin capacity each fortnight at a reduced cost.

Residents will also receive a starter pack to help them make the change including a 7-litre kitchen caddy with compostable liners to collect food scraps which can then be emptied into the FOGO bin. 

New bins will start to be delivered to about 82,000 houses and small apartment blocks from late July which means residents may have an additional red lid bin before FOGO officially starts in November. These households are encouraged to continue putting their existing red lid bin out for collection each week. 

FOGO rollout for large apartment blocks greater than 30 units will follow at a later stage.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Pierre Esber said this is an opportunity for the community to take practical action that reduces landfill. 

“Much like our recycling service, which was implemented years ago, this is another chance for us to make a difference for our kids, grandkids and future generations,” Cr Esber said. 

“Food waste currently makes up about 40% of our red lid bins each week so separating it out will not only free up space in your red bin but could divert up to 19,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

“We’ve worked hard to shape a service that will meet the NSW Government's mandate for all councils to implement FOGO services by 2030 and the demand from our residents for food waste recycling. 

“When we undertook community consultation in 2022, our residents told us they were happy to contribute to reducing the harmful impact of methane on our environment, but they were worried about managing waste and stinky bins. 

“That’s why our red lid bins will be collected weekly and residents who need more space can still opt for a larger red lid bin for an additional cost.

“This initiative is good for the environment and good for our community’s future.”

Council’s Feed it to FOGO campaign will help residents learn more about the service and how to FOGO. The campaign includes videos, social media content and pamphlets in English, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Korean and Arabic on Council’s website. 

Learn more about FOGO or download materials via Council’s website. 

FAST FACTS

• The NSW Government has mandated all councils implement FOGO collection services by 2030.
• Parramatta’s FOGO waste collection service starts from November 2024.
• From late July, houses, duplexes, townhouses and small apartment buildings with less than 30 units will start receiving their new bins.
• Residents who live in apartment and townhouses and currently share bins will be provided with larger bins to share rather than individual bin sets.
• From October, the kitchen caddies and packs of compostable liners will be delivered to the same residents.
• Red lid garbage bin and green lid FOGO bins will be collected weekly, yellow lid recycling bins collected fortnightly.
• Food waste makes up about 40% of our red lid bins each week, by separating FOGO waste it can be turned into compost that can go back into our parks and sporting fields.
• Anything you can eat or grow such as meats, dairy, bones, to grass and sticks can go into FOGO.