Optional FOGO would ‘work better’ instead of forcing households into it
According to the CEO of a recycling company, households should be able to choose the FOGO system rather than being forced to do so.
The three-bin FOGO system is being phased in across Perth and Peel local governments as part of the State Government’s waste prevention and resource recovery strategy 2030.
Complaints about the size of garbage bins and how often they are collected have been met with outrage in some segments of society.
Residents of the city of Rockingham recently held a meeting. special meeting of electors He called for a return to weekly collections from bi-weekly collections, following complaints such as maggots falling out of the lids, bad odors and garbage being thrown away.
His vote has not yet been considered by the full council. Mayor Lorna Buchan warned that returning to weekly collections would result in a “significant and ongoing” cost to taxpayers.
Greg Watts, CEO of C-Wise, a WA organic composting business working with FOGO, said people should be allowed to choose to collect organic waste rather than being told how to manage their waste.
He said it sparked “open rebellion” in Rockingham and “failed badly” in Bunbury.
Mr Watts claimed the State Government had forced FOGO onto the City of Rockingham without checking whether the infrastructure existed to support it.
“You don’t get better recycling outcomes when you impose a system on people who don’t want it and don’t have the confidence that their efforts will make a difference,” Mr Watts said.
“You get anger, pollution and a community that has lost faith in the system and the governments that impose it on them.”
People who choose to separate kitchen and garden waste are more likely to do so well, he said.
“This behavior has a ripple effect. A street where half the households are keen FOGO participants tends to bring the other half together much better than any government mandate,” he said.
“The change chosen is permanent.”
Mr Watts said it also made “economic sense” for councils to allow people to vote.
“Instead of spending millions to distribute bins to every household in the local government area, councils are only providing bins to households that want them,” he said.
“Collection routes are more efficient. Processing volumes are more predictable.
“Collected organic waste is cleaner and more valuable, and councils can still meet government guidelines on the diversion of organic waste, but with better outcomes, lower pollution and lower costs.”
He said he has been in the organic recycling business for 25 years and wants FOGO to be successful.
“Returning organic carbon to soil is one of the most important things we can do for soil health, crop quality and the future of food production in this country,” Mr Watts said.
Ms Buchan has previously said she understands change can be challenging, but the city must deliver an effective service for the wider community.
“As residents become accustomed to separating food waste and garden organic matter, many find their red bin waste decreases over time,” he said.
“We encourage residents to continue to consider how much waste their homes produce and engage in conversations about waste services in a respectful and constructive way, both online and in person.”
