What is FOGO?

FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics. It's a waste collection system designed to keep food and garden waste out of landfill and give it a second life.

Think about everything that ends up on your chopping board each day—banana peels, carrot tops, potato peelings, leftover dinner, coffee grounds and eggshells. Instead of throwing these into your general waste bin, they can be placed into your kitchen caddy and then transferred to your lime-lidded FOGO bin.

Once collected, your food and garden organics are processed into valuable resources such as nutrient-rich compost, soil conditioners and, in some facilities, renewable energy.

How does FOGO work?

Most councils across Western Australia use a three-bin system:

🟥 Red-lidded bin – General waste

🟨 Yellow-lidded bin – Recycling

🟩 Lime-lidded bin – Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO)

Many councils also provide residents with a kitchen caddy and certified compostable liners to make separating food scraps simple and convenient.

Typically, the FOGO bin is collected weekly, while the general waste and recycling bins are collected fortnightly on alternating weeks. Collection schedules may vary depending on your local council.

Why is FOGO important?

Food and garden waste can make up a significant portion of the average household's rubbish.

When these materials are sent to landfill, valuable resources are lost. By separating your food and garden organics, they can instead be transformed into compost and soil conditioners that help improve soil health and support more sustainable gardening and agriculture.

It's a simple change at home that can make a real environmental difference.

What can go in your FOGO bin?

Food scraps

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat and bones
• Seafood
• Bread and grains
• Dairy products
• Coffee grounds
• Tea leaves
• Eggshells
• Leftovers
• Unpackaged expired food

Garden organics

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Weeds
• Small branches and twigs
• Plant cuttings

What can't go in your FOGO bin?

Keep these items out of your FOGO bin:

• Plastic bags
• Glass
• Metal
• Nappies
• General household rubbish
• Anything labelled "biodegradable" unless your council specifically accepts it
• Non-certified compostable products

A simple way to remember is:

🌱 If it didn't grow, or it wasn't once alive, it probably doesn't belong in your FOGO bin.

(Always check your local council's guidelines, as accepted items can vary.)

Making FOGO easier

Starting FOGO doesn't have to be messy or complicated.

At Eco Haven Co, we're passionate about helping households make the transition with quality compostable liners, practical products and helpful tips that make managing your FOGO system cleaner, easier and less stressful.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your current setup, we're here to help every step of the way.