Tell us in our latest engagement on Your Say.
There’s a change coming to what most Clarence residents can put in their Green Waste bins.
From 1 January 2027, we are introducing a Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service. This will mean your green waste bin will become your FOGO bin and food scraps and garden waste will be collected together.
This waste is then diverted from landfill and turned into compost, returning valuable nutrients to the soil, and supporting healthier parks, gardens and agriculture.
FOGO waste currently makes up around 57% of household rubbish in Clarence, so diverting this waste will mean your general waste bin will be less full, while significantly reduce landfill and utilise a valuable resource, helping to create a more sustainable community.
The introduction of FOGO aligns with our latest Strategic Plan’s new environmental and sustainable focus and was endorsed by Councillors in December last year.
From 1 January 2027, your current four-weekly green waste service will be replaced with a fortnightly FOGO collection, but your weekly general waste and fortnightly recycling will remain the same.
Have your say
We are seeking community feedback to help us understand what you know about FOGO, and what we can do to make the change to the FOGO service as simple, seamless, and successful as possible.
This engagement will not influence factors such as rollout date, eligibility, collection frequency, and accepted materials, but will assist us give community the right information at the outset.
This will help us keep contamination to a minimum from the start, and a successful FOGO service will result in quicker environmental, economic, and community benefits.
FAQs
What is FOGO?
FOGO stands for Food Organics Garden Organics. It uses your lime-green lid bin for both garden waste and food scraps that would otherwise go in general waste. These organics are turned into compost, helping reduce landfill and greenhouse gas emissions. Common FOGO items include lawn clippings, leaves, weeds, food scraps, and some food-soiled paper/cardboard.
When will FOGO service start?
1 January 2027.
Will I need a new bin?
No. Your current Green Waste bin will become your FOGO bin.
What goes in my bin?
All food scraps and garden organics. In general, if it used to live or grow then it’s applicable for FOGO. This includes garden waste such as grass clippings, flowers, and leaves, food scraps such as meat, bones, and vegetables, along with paper products such as paper towels and tissues.
Detailed information about what can do in your bin will be uploaded to the Waste page.
How often will FOGO be collected?
FOGO will replace your current Green Waste service, with an increased frequency bringing our FOGO service fortnightly.
General Waste and Recycle waste services will remain the same.
What are the benefits
FOGO delivers both environmental and cost benefits.
By diverting organics from landfill, food and garden waste can be processed into nutrient-rich compost—boosting Clarence’s resource recovery and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the amount of general waste sent to landfill also lowers disposal costs, which can help manage waste charges over time. With the Tasmanian Government landfill levy increasing to over $60 per tonne in 2026/27, processing FOGO is expected to be a cheaper option than disposing of the same material as general waste.
Will my bin smell?
Food organics may create a smell when they decompose, however, steps can be taken to reduce this. When bins are kept in the shade and techniques such as layering are used FOGO bins often do not have a smell. It’s recommended to perform regularly layering with wastes such as lawn trimmings/leaves, newspaper or cardboard, which act to adsorb the moisture and reduce odours. Further, place scraps such as meat and seafood into the freezer until collection day then place into the FOGO kerbside bin. Hosing out your bin after collections is another method to remove potential odours from residue waste.
Where will FOGO go?
All collected material will go to a regional organics facility, where the material will be managed and processed into compost.
Who will receive the FOGO service?
All residents within Clarence who have a current Green Waste service.