Latrobe City residents will soon see improvements to their household recycling and waste collection services, with the introduction of a new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) program aimed at reducing food waste and boosting sustainable recycling outcomes.
From 1 July 2026, residents will be able to place food scraps into their lime green-lidded kerbside bins instead of general rubbish bins. The collected food and garden waste will then be processed into compost and mulch, helping to divert organic waste from landfill while supporting a more circular economy.
Latrobe City Mayor Councillor Sharon Gibson said the new FOGO recycling service would deliver environmental and community benefits without disrupting existing collection schedules.
“This is a win for residents, Council and the environment,” Gibson said.
“There will be no changes to bin collection days or times. The biggest difference is that residents can now add food scraps to their lime green-lidded bins, helping reduce landfill waste and create valuable compost products.”
The rollout forms part of the Victorian Government’s statewide kerbside waste reform program, which requires councils to implement FOGO services by July 2027.
To help households prepare, Latrobe City Council will distribute information packs by mail in the coming months. The packs will include a voucher for residents to collect a free kitchen caddy from Latrobe City HQ or local service centres. While optional, the caddies are designed to make collecting food scraps at home more convenient.
Residents are encouraged not to use certified compostable liners, as they can interfere with commercial composting processes by breaking down too slowly and contaminating the material stream.
Accepted items in the FOGO bins include fruit and vegetable scraps, cooked leftovers, meat, seafood, eggshells, bread, rice, pasta, dairy products, coffee grounds and paper towel.
The collected organic waste will be processed at Pinegro’s new composting facility in Morwell. There, the material will undergo contamination checks before being composted in specialised chambers that accelerate decomposition through controlled high heat. The finished compost will then be matured and used to support agricultural and food production.
The new FOGO program is expected to play a key role in improving recycling rates across Latrobe City while reducing the amount of organic waste sent to landfill.