Photo shows big bin change headed for thousands of Aussies
In this growing region it is the first step towards a more sustainable waste collection service.
Dozens of councils around the country are dramatically overhauling how residents' rubbish is collected, moving towards systems they say are more sustainable, in a bid to reduce waste. FOGO bins have so far been rolled out in over 230 LGAs across Australia. Now, another council aiming for a Food Organics and Garden Organics collection has taken the first step.
The City of Moreton Bay council — one of the fastest developing regions in Australia, situated between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast — said 116,000 residents will soon receive a green-lidded bin (GO) for garden waste, in one of the biggest bin rollouts in Australia.
According to the City, by diverting garden waste, which makes up 23 per cent of general waste in the region, "our service will help reduce landfill by 15,000 tonnes each year" and support the goal of net zero emissions by 2039.
The moves comes after the Queensland government reportedly committed $9.6 million to support the council in rolling out the garden organics collection service. The second stage to be undertaken at a later date will be a FOGO bin collection for Moreton Bay residents, but this is dependent on a suitable FOGO processing facility of sufficient capacity operating in the region, Waste Management Review reported.
Council says new 'GO' bins have many benefits
"City of Moreton Bay's new garden organics (GO) collection service will start from December 2, 2024," the council announced. "Eligible residents will receive a 240-litre garden organics bin with a lime green lid. The service will move us towards a circular economy model of reuse, reduce, and recycle".
Residents with a property between 300 and 2,000 square metres will receive a 240-litre lime green-lidded bin to dispose of garden waste like grass clippings, branches, and leaves, the City said, adding that locals can opt-out of the service, if they choose. The new change is not expected to impact weekly red-bin collections — a controversial issue in many local government regions.
Confusion as Aussie state makes huge $129 million bin change
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Images uploaded to social media show the thousands of bins set to be rolled out in the coming months, to the region with a population of half a million people. While many praised the obvious environmental benefits to the scheme, some people questioned if there were now too many bins to store in the average home.
"For those of us that have no room left for these bins. Can we leave them on the footpath?" a woman asked. "Good to know people on 3000m blocks don’t have any green waste," said another.
Councils' ever-changing bin night routine
Dozens of councils around the country have tweaked their bin systems and collection days throughout the last two years — often to the confusion of locals — with Victoria earlier this month even rolling out a unique purple bin.
In NSW, the Inner West Council, a densely populated and vibrant area, west of the Sydney CBD, has attracted prolonged criticism for their FOGO bin flip-flopping.
After council announced it would collect red bins only fortnightly last year, mirroring a move many others had already made around the country, residents responded with outrage. So much so that in February, the council offered weekly collections to those who need them through an opt-in service.
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