City of Stirling Initiates Six-Month FOGO Bin Trial in Coolbinia
The City of Stirling, Western Australia's largest local government, is set to launch a comprehensive Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin trial next month. This small-scale trial will take place in the suburb of Coolbinia and is scheduled to run for six months, from May 15 to October 29, doubling the duration initially proposed by the city in September of last year.
How the FOGO Trial Will Operate
During the 24-week trial period, residents in Coolbinia will see their existing lime-green lid garden organic bins repurposed as FOGO bins. To facilitate this transition, households will receive a 7-litre kitchen caddy along with compostable liners, designed to help residents efficiently dispose of food scraps. The 240-litre lime-green lidded FOGO bin will be collected weekly, while the 120-litre red general waste bin will be collected on a fortnightly basis.
The primary goal of this new system is to significantly reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by separating it at the source. This separation enables the organic material to be processed into compost, promoting a more sustainable waste management approach. Only items that once lived or grew, such as food scraps and garden waste, are intended for disposal in the FOGO bin.
Community Engagement and Trial Scope
The city selected Coolbinia for this trial due to the community's expressed keen interest in sustainability, recycling, and FOGO initiatives. A total of 535 single-dwelling households in Coolbinia will participate in the trial. It is important to note that multi-unit dwellings within the suburb and all other residents across the City of Stirling are not included in this initial phase.
Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin emphasized the trial's importance in refining the city's waste management strategies. "The City of Stirling is home to 250,000 people, so if we're going to do this, we want to make sure we're doing it right and we want to be confident it's going to work," Mr. Irwin stated. "Our community and our council are serious about reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill — and there's no doubt that FOGO could play a big part in that. This trial will allow us to work closely with Coolbinia residents to identify challenges and get honest feedback as we look at the future of FOGO in the city."
Interestingly, Mayor Irwin initially voted against the FOGO bin system at a committee meeting last year before ultimately supporting this trial, highlighting the careful consideration given to the initiative.
Financial and Environmental Implications
The City of Stirling currently allocates approximately $40 million annually to waste and recycling services, achieving a recovery rate of 49 percent. According to a report presented to the council last September, adopting a combined waste-to-energy and FOGO approach could potentially increase the city's recovery rate to around 85 percent. This improvement would significantly reduce reliance on landfills and support the city's broader sustainability targets.
Key Dates and Logistics
The first weekly collection of the lime-green-lid FOGO bin in Coolbinia is scheduled for Thursday, May 21. In preparation for the trial, kitchen caddies and bin liners will be delivered to participating households in late April and early May. Residents are encouraged to visit the city's website for more detailed information about the FOGO trial and its implementation.
