In Short
- FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics, a kerbside bin stream that collects food scraps and garden waste together for composting or anaerobic digestion.
- A FOGO bin takes food scraps, meat, bones, dairy, garden prunings and grass clippings. It does not take plastic bags, compostable packaging unless the council allows it, or treated timber.
- In NSW, businesses producing 3,840 litres or more of general waste a week have had to separate food waste since 1 July 2026, and every council must offer household FOGO by 1 July 2030.
- FOGO processing typically involves source separation, collection, receival and pre-processing, biological processing through composting or, where suitable, anaerobic digestion, followed by refinement of the finished material. Depackaging can form part of pre-processing where packaged commercial food waste is accepted.
- Australia is targeting a halving of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030, which is why FOGO infrastructure is the fastest growing part of the waste sector.
FOGO is the bin most Australians will be handed in the next few years whether they ask for it or not. For councils and food businesses it is now a legal obligation with dates attached, and the part that catches people out is not the bin, it is what has to happen to the material after the truck tips it.
In Australia, Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) recycling systems are gaining traction as a central solution for diverting organics from landfill and converting waste into valuable resources such as compost, mulch, biogas, and biochar.
These systems are not just a local innovation, they’re critical to meeting national waste targets. According to the National Waste and Resource Recovery Report 2024, organics make up over 30% of the waste stream, yet only 49% of organic waste is currently recovered. With the Australian Government aiming to halve the amount of organic waste by 2030, FOGO services will play a vital role in closing the gap.
What is FOGO waste?
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics. It is a single collection stream combining food scraps and garden waste, kept separate from general waste and from dry recycling, so the organic material can be composted or digested rather than sent to landfill.
| Goes in the FOGO bin | Stays out |
|---|---|
| Food scraps, including meat, bones, seafood and dairy. | Plastic bags of any kind, including degradable ones. |
| Leftovers, expired food, coffee grounds, tea leaves. | Compostable packaging, unless your council specifically accepts it. |
| Garden prunings, leaves, grass clippings, weeds. | Treated, painted or coated timber. |
| Paper towel and soiled paper, where the council accepts it. | Soil, rocks, bricks and rubble. |
| Small branches within the size limit set by the council. | Nappies, pet waste and cat litter, in most council areas. |
The Scale of FOGO Waste in Australia
According to the National Waste & Resource Recovery Report 2024, Australians generated about 14.6 million tonnes of organic waste in 2022–23, equating to 556 kg per person. This included 28% food organics and 31% garden vegetation, with the remainder made up of timber, biosolids, and other mixed organics. Roughly 62% of this was recovered, primarily through composting, mulching, and biosolids application, but nearly 40% still went to landfill. Importantly, access to kerbside FOGO collection is expanding, by 2022–23, 53% of Australians had an organics bin and 28% had FOGO services, with South Australia leading at 77% uptake.
What is a FOGO Recycling System?
FOGO systems are designed to collect, decontaminate, and process food and garden waste:
- Food organics: scraps, leftovers, coffee grounds, spoiled food.
- Garden organics: clippings, branches, leaves, shrubs, trimmings.
By separating organics at the source, households, businesses and councils using FOGO systems reduce contamination and maximise resource recovery.
Why FOGO Matters in Australia
- $20 billion: Annual cost of food waste to the Australian economy,
- 5.3 million tonnes: Food intended for human consumption wasted each year,
- 7.6 million tonnes CO₂-e: Greenhouse emissions projected from decomposing food waste,
- National Target: Halve food waste by 2030 under the National Food Waste Strategy.
Beyond environmental gains, FOGO recovery strengthens local economies by producing saleable outputs and creating jobs in recycling industries.
FOGO Recycling in Australian Context
FOGO systems are critical for achieving Australia’s National Waste Policy target of halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030. With only 49% of organic waste currently recycled, the potential for improvement is significant.
- Lower landfill waste and emissions.
- Support nutrient recycling for agriculture.
- Create renewable energy through biogas production.
- Strengthen local economies by generating marketable outputs.
Challenges: Contamination, infrastructure limitations, and lack of public awareness about proper waste segregation need to be addressed to maximise FOGO’s impact.
The NSW FOGO mandate and what it means for you.
Chapter 5A of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, inserted by the FOGO Recycling amendment legislation, sets staged deadlines by weekly general waste capacity. Penalties for non-compliance reach $500,000, plus $50,000 for each day an offence continues.
| Date | Who it applies to |
|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 | Businesses generating 3,840 litres or more of general waste per week. Already in force. |
| 1 July 2028 | Businesses generating 1,920 litres or more per week. |
| 1 July 2030 | Businesses generating 660 litres or more per week, and all NSW councils providing household FOGO. |
How Does a FOGO Recycling System Work?
Source Separation
Designated FOGO bins (kerbside, council drop-off and skip bin collection) collect food and garden waste, usually avoiding contaminants like plastics.
Collection
Bins are transported to councils or recycling facilities.
Pre-Processing
Waste is screened for contaminants such as plastic, glass, or metals.
Processing
- Shredding: Resizing larger materials into smaller pieces to facilitate quicker decomposition and improve the efficiency of subsequent processing methods, or to mulch.
- Composting: Microorganisms break down material into nutrient-rich compost. Garden waste often requires shredding or mulching.
- Anaerobic Digestion: Food scraps and fine green waste produce biogas and digestate without oxygen.
Refinement
Outputs are tested for quality and prepared for distribution.
How does a FOGO system work?
| Stage | What happens | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Source separation | Households and businesses put organics in a separate bin. Contamination here decides the quality of everything downstream. | Kitchen caddies, FOGO bins and approved liners where applicable. |
| 2. Collection and receival | Kerbside or commercial collection to a receival facility, usually weekly. | Collection vehicles, receival areas and hoppers. |
| 3. Pre-processing | Contaminants and oversized material are removed and feedstock is prepared for the downstream biological process. Packaged commercial food waste may require depackaging. | Screens, shredders, picking/separation equipment and depackagers where required. |
| 4. Biological processing | Aerobic composting in windrows or vessels, or anaerobic digestion in a sealed tank. | Composting systems or anaerobic digestion systems. |
| 5. Refinement | Processed material may be screened and contaminants removed to achieve the required finished-product specification. | Screens and appropriate separation equipment. |
Outputs of FOGO Recycling
- Compost: Enriches soil for agriculture, parks, and landscaping.
- Biogas: Generates renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel reliance.
- Biochar: Biochar is a carbon-rich material used to enhance soil and store carbon.
- Digestate: Acts as a natural fertiliser or soil conditioner.
- Mulch: Retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and aids in erosion control.
The Future of FOGO Recycling
- Smart composting bins: IoT-enabled bins provide data to optimise composting conditions.
- Advanced sorting technology: AI-powered systems enhance waste segregation, improving output quality.
- Local anaerobic digesters: Community-based systems process waste on-site, producing energy and compost locally.
- Thermal composting techniques: Speeds up the composting process while reducing odours and pathogens.
These innovations will make FOGO systems more accessible and effective, accelerating Australia’s progress toward waste reduction goals.
Tailored FOGO Solutions for Australian Facilities
From shredders to advanced recycling systems, our equipment supports efficient FOGO decontamination and processing, ensuring your facility produces high-quality compost, biogas, and other valuable outputs. With scalable and flexible options, we help facilities meet Australian waste reduction goals while maximising operational efficiency.
Shredders
Pre-process bulky garden organics into smaller pieces for composting or digestion.
Trommel Screens
Separate materials by size to remove contaminants and process organic waste into revenue streams.
Sorting Equipment
Automate the removal of non-organics from FOGO waste streams.
Mavitec Depackaging Systems
Process a wide range of organic waste, converting it into 99.7% clean organic material suitable for animal and biogas feedstock.
Food Waste Digesters
Convert food waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate.
Case Study – Wangaratta
The City of Wangaratta in Victoria required an upgraded solution to manage 15,000 tonnes of contaminated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) waste annually, exceeding its outdated infrastructure’s capacity.
Waste Initiatives addressed this challenge by designing and commissioning a robust Organics Decontamination Plant featuring a 2-bay picking station. The system includes a reinforced feed hopper, material regulation device, conveyors for efficient transport and sorting, and a shredder for excess material.
Operator safety and efficiency were enhanced with an air-conditioned cabin, maintenance-friendly access facilities, and a centralised control system. This setup ensures compliance with EPA regulations and supports cost-effective peak and off-peak operations. Read More…
Why Choose Waste Initiatives for your Fogo Recycling System?
At Waste Initiatives, we are dedicated to providing our clients in Australia and New Zealand with the best waste management solutions available. As a trusted distributor of complete recycling systems, we bring you the expertise and support needed to integrate our equipment into your operations seamlessly.
Comprehensive Support and Service: From initial consultation and system installation to ongoing maintenance and support, Waste Initiatives offers end-to-end service. Our team of experts is here to ensure that you get the most out of your investment.
Engineered Solutions: We understand that every business has unique needs. Our team works closely with you to customise your recycling system to fit your specific requirements, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency.
Commitment to Innovation: As leaders in waste management solutions, we are committed to staying at the forefront of industry innovation. We continuously seek out and provide the latest technologies and systems to help our clients manage their waste more effectively and sustainably.
Conclusion
FOGO recycling is central to Australia’s waste transformation. By diverting food and garden organics, councils and businesses can cut emissions, meet national targets, and support a circular economy. With over 14.6 million tonnes of organics and 7.6 million tonnes of food waste generated each year, there is enormous potential for improvement.
Waste Initiatives is your trusted partner, delivering engineered FOGO solutions that directly address this gap. From shredders and depackaging systems to digesters and advanced sorting technologies, we help facilities transform organic waste into high-value outputs, backed by local project management, nationwide service, and compliance expertise.
Contact us today to see how your facility can lead the way in organics recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FOGO?
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics. It is a kerbside collection stream that takes food scraps and garden waste together in one bin, so the material can be composted or digested into compost, mulch, biogas or biochar instead of going to landfill. By 2022-23, 53% of Australians had an organics bin and 28% had a FOGO service.
What is a FOGO bin in Australia?
A FOGO bin is the household bin, usually lime green lidded, for food scraps and garden organics combined. It takes meat, bones, dairy, leftovers, prunings and grass clippings. It does not take plastic bags, and most councils exclude compostable packaging because it does not break down fast enough in commercial composting.
What happens to FOGO waste?
FOGO is delivered to an organics processing facility where contaminants and unsuitable materials are removed before biological processing. Composting is a common pathway for mixed food and garden organics. Anaerobic digestion can also be used for suitable organic feedstocks, particularly food-rich streams, producing biogas and digestate that requires further management or processing.
How does FOGO work for businesses?
Businesses separate food waste at the point it is generated, store it in a dedicated bin, and have it collected by a licensed organics processor. In NSW this has been mandatory since 1 July 2026 for businesses generating 3,840 litres or more of general waste a week, with lower thresholds applying in 2028 and 2030.
Is FOGO waste processing available across Australia?
Access is growing but uneven. By 2022-23, 53% of Australians had an organics bin and 28% had a FOGO service, with South Australia leading at 77%. The Recycling Modernisation Fund is co-funding new organics infrastructure.
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