City of Rockingham prepares residents for FOGO system with 'ready kit'

City of Rockingham residents are being prepared for the final stage of the three-bin FOGO system which will see their red-lidded general waste bins collected fortnightly and their green-lidded bins weekly.

From May, households will start receiving a kit including a kitchen caddy, two rolls of caddy liners and a guide with information on how the new system works.

From June 30, food scraps such as bread, cereal, meat and seafood – including meat bones and shells - coffee grounds, and fruit and veggies can be added to the green-lidded bin for a weekly kerbside collection.

City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin said the new service will be a transformational change to one of the City’s most important services. 

"It's exciting to see the final stages of FOGO about to be rolled-out. With this initiative, we’ll join over 20 other local governments across Western Australia, working to drastically reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill,” Mayor Hamblin said.

The change aligns with the State Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 and comes after a 2024 waste audit of several Rockingham suburbs.

The audit showed that almost half of what was being put into red waste bins was organic waste, such as food scraps and garden clippings. 

Once FOGO collections start from June 30, green-lidded FOGO bins will be collected weekly, red-lidded general waste bins will be collected fortnightly, and yellow-lidded recycling bins will continue to be collected fortnightly.

Changes to some collection days will occur and the City will be advising all residents of their bin days by mail well before the start of FOGO.

"Minimising the waste we send to landfill is essential for protecting our natural environment," Mayor Hamblin said.

The contents from FOGO bins will be recycled into useful materials, such as compost, mulch and soil conditioner, which can be re-used in parks and gardens.

“We’re excited to work alongside our community to make this change. The success of FOGO relies on everyone’s participation, and together, we can make a meaningful difference in how we manage our waste," Mayor Hamblin said.

People who have or live with someone that has a medical condition that generates more waste than usual can apply on the City’s website for an additional red-lidded bin that will be collected weekly.

Residents will receive further information about the roll-out, and the City will be hosting a series of shopping centre informational stands next month.

Community information sessions will also be held in the lead up to FOGO.

Residents will be able to attend by registration.

More FOGO tips and information will be available on the City’s Website and Facebook Page in the coming months.