FOGO (Food Organics & Garden Organics)
FOGO is your green-lid bin for food and garden waste.
Instead of going to landfill, this material is turned into compost — which can be reused to improve soil and grow new plants.
It’s one of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
How the service works
FOGO is collected from your property as part of your kerbside bin service.
The contents are transported to a composting facility, where they are processed into products like compost, mulch and soil conditioners.
Find your collection day using the interactive map: nwrrr.com.au/map
How much does this service cost me?
If your property receives a kerbside collection service, you pay for it through the waste charges in your rates.
Learn more about Waste Costs – What You Pay and Why.
What you can put in your FOGO bin
FOGO is for organic waste, including:
- Food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat, bones)
- Coffee grounds and tea bags
- Garden waste (grass clippings, leaves, small branches)
- Food-soiled paper (like paper towel and pizza boxes)
- Certified compostable packaging (see FAQ's below)
Not sure what goes in your bin? Download the A-Z Guide
What you need to do
Using your FOGO bin correctly helps keep the system working well.
- Put food and garden waste in your green-lid FOGO bin
- Keep plastics, packaging and general rubbish out
- Put your bin out the night before collection
- Make sure the lid can close properly
Why this matters
Food and garden waste make up a large part of what goes into landfill.
When this material goes to landfill:
- it increases costs
- it creates greenhouse gases
When it goes in your FOGO bin instead, it can be turned into something useful.
The more we use FOGO properly, the less we rely on landfill.
Common challenges
We know it can take a bit of getting used to.
You might be unsure what goes in the bin, or find it hard to change habits at home.
That’s okay — we’ll continue to share simple tips and guidance to make it easier.
Simple ways to get started
- Keep a small container in your kitchen for food scraps
- Empty it regularly into your FOGO bin
- Use your recycling bin for packaging instead of your general waste bin
Small changes like these can make a big difference over time.
Part of the bigger picture
FOGO is an important part of reducing waste in Circular Head.
It helps:
- reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill
- manage long-term costs
- support better environmental outcomes
It’s a simple way for everyone to play a part.
Need help?
- General waste enquiries: (03) 6452 4800
- Recycling & FOGO enquiries: North West Resource Recovery & Recycling (03) 6427 4646
No — to keep the service flexible and cost-effective, households can use a container of their choice such as:
- A Tupperware container or used ice cream tub
- A bucket or any small bin with a lid
- A purpose-made caddy (available at hardware stores)
Choose whatever works best for your space and routine.
That’s great! FOGO is designed to complement your setup — giving you an option for items that typically don’t belong in compost or animal feed, such as:
- Dairy, meat, bones, bread, citrus, oils, and cooked leftovers
It also helps manage larger garden waste or weeds that may overwhelm home composting systems.
These items should remain in your general waste bin. They cannot be processed safely through the FOGO system.
FOGO waste is transported to the Dulverton Waste Management composting facility, where it is processed to Australian Standard AS4454 for composts, mulches and soil conditioners.
This high-quality compost is then used by local farms and nurseries to improve soil health — closing the loop from table to paddock and back to the plate.
Yes. Compost produced at Dulverton is available for purchase at the Dulverton Waste Management Centre and at various outlets across the North West coast.
Not yet — but Dulverton is keen to work with food businesses in the future.
📧 To express interest, email admin@dulverton.com.au with the subject line “Commercial FOGO Interest”.
If you live in the designated urban areas receiving FOGO, the service will apply to your household. FOGO is being delivered to over 38,000 homes across the North West region as part of a unified, region-wide approach to organics recycling.
Similar to recycling, composting has processing costs. While Dulverton sells compost to reduce costs, revenue from sales does not fully cover processing. The remaining cost is paid by councils as a gate fee — the compost sales help offset these costs and deliver better value for residents.
FOGO is part of the solution — but reducing food waste in the first place is even better! Try:
- Planning meals and using a shopping list
- Checking use-by dates and freezing leftovers
- Getting creative with seasonal produce and leftovers
- Visiting websites like Love Food Hate Waste for tips
Acceptable Compostable packaging:
- AS 4736-2006 certified caddy liners
- AS 4736-2006 certified compostable plastic - plastic bags and wrap (soft plastics)
- AS 4736-2006 certified compostable plastic - rigid plastic (corn, sugarcane, cassava, hemp or beets)
- Coffee pod – compostable
- Mycelium foam packaging and tableware (mushroom based foam)
Questions or Feedback?
Any questions, comments or concerns about Recyling or FOGO contact Dulverton Waste Management.
📧 Email: hello@nwrrr.com.au
📞 Phone: (03) 6427 4646
For all other enquiries (including questions about General Waste Bins) contact Council:
Circular Head Council
(03) 6452 4800
33 Goldie Street
PO Box 348
Smithton, TAS 7330