Food organics and garden organics (FOGO) pilot
Some ACT suburbs are part of the FOGO collection pilot. Currently over 6,000 households in Belconnen, Bruce, Cook, Macquarie and selected apartments in Tuggeranong are included in the program.
Only residents in the FOGO pilot areas can put food waste in their FOGO bins. For information on the ACT’s standard garden waste collection service, visit the green waste page.
The pilot is the first step to introducing a Canberra-wide FOGO collection service. This is expected to occur in 2026 once a large-scale FOGO processing facility has been built.
What can and can't go in your FOGO bin
Find out what you can and can't put in your bins.
What goes in your FOGO bin
What goes in your FOGO bin
The FOGO bin is for food scraps and garden waste, such as:
- Leftovers and cooked food
- Dairy products and eggs
- Fruit and vegetable scraps (stickers removed)
- Meat and fish scraps and bones (no oyster shells)
- Bread, grains and cereals
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves
- Grass clippings
- Prunings, cuttings and trimmings
- Twigs and sticks
- Palm fronds
- Weeds
- Certified compostable liners*
*Only compostable caddy liners that meet the AS 5810 Australian compostability standard can be used in FOGO bins. No other compostable products can be placed in the FOGO bin.
What doesn’t go in your FOGO bin
What doesn’t go in your FOGO bin
The following items do not belong in your FOGO bin:
- Oyster shells
- Tea bags
- Animal droppings, kitty litter and animal bedding
- Hair
- Paper, tissues and paper towels
- Plastic products
- Nappies
- Period products
- Vacuum dust
- Treated and painted timber
- Building products
- Metals and glass
- Textiles and old clothing
- Biodegradable bags and plastic bags
Compostable products cannot be placed in the FOGO bin. This is because many compostable products contain additives to provide water and grease resistance in food packaging. They can include perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which may cause human and environmental harm. All Australian governments have agreed to prevent the release of PFAS where practicable.
Kitchen caddy and liners
Households in the pilot receive a free kitchen caddy and annual supply of 150 kitchen caddy liners.
Kitchen caddies are used to store food scraps and are dishwasher safe. They can be emptied into the FOGO bin along with garden waste.
Tip: Instead of using kitchen caddy liners you can tip loose food scraps directly into your FOGO bin.
Kitchen caddy liners are optional and must meet the AS 5810 compostability standard. Please do not use plastic and biodegradable liners as they contaminate the compost. You can buy extra compostable liners from the supermarket or order them from the ACT Government. Check for the home compostable symbol (PNG 56.3 KB).
Tips for preventing pests and smells
Following these few handy tips will help minimise odour in your FOGO bin:
- Put out your FOGO bin every week, even if it is not full.
- Freeze fish and meat waste and put them in your FOGO bin the morning of collection.
- Use a sprinkling of bicarbonate soda to deodorise your bin.
- Hose your bin out regularly and let it dry completely.
- Keep your bin in the shade.
What happens to your FOGO waste
FOGO waste in the ACT is processed at Corkhill Bros at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre using a method known as aerated static pile composting. This method involves 2 phases. In the first phase the FOGO material is placed in an enclosed area where temperature, moisture and aeration are actively controlled. This helps stop odours escaping and accelerates the composting process. In the second phase, the compost material is moved into long rows for final maturation for approximately 5 weeks. The process takes around 8 weeks before the FOGO material is ready to be returned to the earth to grow more food.
Corkhill Bros uses the FOGO material in their compost and soil conditioners. These can be purchased directly from Corkhill Bros.
FOGO for apartments
Currently more than 2,000 units are participating in the FOGO pilot program. These buildings have FOGO bins alongside their standard recycling and landfill bins in the shared waste areas.
At this stage, we are not enrolling new apartments and townhouses into the FOGO pilot. If you wish to add your apartment building to our waitlist, please send your expression of interest with current building management contact details and exact address to fogo@act.gov.au
Due to the complexity of apartments and townhouses, an onsite assessment is required. In some cases, FOGO will not be suitable for apartments and townhouses.
Building management representing apartments in the FOGO pilot can contact us to:
- modify the number of FOGO bins
- change strata management contact details
- request support with the service.
If you need more assistance, please contact us at fogo@act.gov.au
