A Bunbury City councillor has criticized the FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) program, aimed at converting food waste into compost, labeling it an expensive failure. After over ten years of implementation, the councillor has suggested a complete discontinuation of the initiative.
The city is currently exploring the feasibility of reverting to a simpler two-bin waste system. Rising fuel costs may jeopardize the FOGO program in rural Western Australia, even as the three-bin model has been praised as an effective approach to address the state’s waste management challenges.
The FOGO system was introduced in Bunbury more than a decade ago, allowing for the collection of food scraps to be transformed into compost for commercial applications. The Western Australian government aims to implement FOGO across all councils in Perth and Peel by the end of 2025 as a significant component of its waste management strategy for 2030.
However, in Bunbury, where FOGO originated, councillors recently voted to examine the possibility of returning to a two-bin system, with one councillor declaring the current system a failure. The FOGO initiative in the South West has faced considerable issues since late 2024, when local processing collapsed, resulting in thousands of kilograms of waste being sent to landfills monthly.
In February, the state government proposed a $4.5 million support package that included a rebate of $95 per tonne for waste transported to Perth.
During a council meeting, Bunbury councillor Karen Turner urged her fellow members to abandon the FOGO program, despite the significant investments already made. “FOGO has failed… we should not persist with a failing strategy,” she stated. “We tried, we failed, and the sensible action is to stop.”
While the council did not support Cr. Turner’s proposal to terminate FOGO outright, it agreed to explore the possibility of trucking waste to Perth, located 200 kilometers away. Additionally, her suggestion to investigate a return to the two-bin system received endorsement.
Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel emphasized the need to make a decision regarding FOGO in the coming months, highlighting the impact of rising costs. He called on the state government for further assistance, noting the city’s pride in being an early adopter of the FOGO program and the community’s overall support for it. However, he acknowledged that this support must be weighed against financial considerations.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring Shire of Harvey, the council declined the state government’s rebate offer during a recent meeting. Deputy Shire President Craig Carbone mentioned the council’s intent to search for more effective solutions, citing the volatility of transportation costs due to fluctuating diesel prices.
In contrast, several councils in the Perth metropolitan area have successfully implemented FOGO with the help of state government grants. The City of Rockingham introduced the bins last June and reported positive outcomes. Recently, the City of Stirling, Perth’s largest local government, launched a small-scale trial of FOGO involving 500 properties in Coolbinia. Mayor Mark Irwin indicated that this trial would be controlled to ensure effective implementation before any broader commitment is made.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn has been approached for comments regarding the ongoing situation.
