Food and Garden Organics service (FOGO)

Your food organics garden organics bin (FOGO) is used for the collection and recycling of food waste, grass clippings, prunings, weeds, leaves and other garden waste.

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When is your next collection?

FOGO bin graphicYour food organics garden organics (lime-green lid) is collected fortnightly on the same day as your general waste collection and the alternate week to your mixed recycling bin.

Bins should be on the kerb by 6am on the day of collection (or the night before), and removed within one day of collection.

Check your next collection day

Waste collection trucks have a mechanical lifting arm, so bins need to be positioned to ensure the mechanical arm can reach and lift. Please follow these instructions to ensure your waste can be collected. 

1. Put bin out by 6am

Bins should be on the kerb by 6am on the day of collection (or the night before).

2. Do not overfill bin

Do not overfill your bin, as this can lead to spillage and litter problems. Please keep all bin lids closed.

Keep your bin under 40kg or it may not be collected. How will you know? It will be very difficult to move.

Do not overfill your bin

3. Keep waste inside bin

Do not place any excess waste on top of or beside your bin.

Do not place excess waste on top of or beside bin

4. Wheels away from road

Place your bins near the kerb or roadside with the wheels away from the road, nearest to the house or property.

5. Give your bin space

Do not place bins in front of one another.

Do not place bins in front of each other

Place your bin 30cm (about 1 foot) away from additional bins to allow space for the mechanical arm to access each bin.

Place your bins at least 1m away from trees, parked cars and all poles, such as light poles or electrical poles. This space is needed for safety reasons.

Keep proper space between bins

6. Keep bins out of truck turning zone

Place bins outside the truck turning zone – this applies to dead end streets and courts. If you are able to, please group bins by lid colour.

Don't place bins in the truck turning zone

Don't place bins in the truck turning zone

7. Multi unit developments

If you live in a multi-unit development, please help our collection drivers by grouping your bins by lid colour, remembering to leave at least 30cm between each bin to allow space for the mechanical arm of the truck to access each bin.

Group bins by lid colour

8. Remove bin from kerb

Please remove bin from kerb within one day of collection.

Support with your bin collection

*Missed collection must be reported within 2 business days of regular scheduled collection.

Dual occupancies, units and flats

Some multi-dwelling developments have a 'share' system for their mixed recycling and food and garden organics bins due to storage and bin placement issues. This is determined on an individual basis by our Waste Management Unit.

Annual FOGO liner delivery

Council provides eligible households with an annual supply of compostable FOGO kitchen liners every year, if you have not previously declined to receive them. If your household runs out before the annual delivery, top-up FOGO liner packs are available at Council’s Realm and Croydon Customer Service Centres.

When will I receive the annual delivery of FOGO kitchen caddy liners?

Your next delivery of compostable FOGO kitchen caddy liners is scheduled to occur during February through to March 2026.

If you received liners and do not need them, please return to a Council Customer Service Centre.

Change my FOGO Liner delivery status

You can update Council as to whether you do or do not wish to receive the annual delivery of FOGO kitchen caddy liners. Please note that any change to your delivery status is applied to all future years.

If you have previously declined liners, or decline the liner delivery in Feb/Mar 2026, you will not automatically receive them in future years. To receive liners again, you will need to contact Council to update your delivery preference.

Please complete a FOGO Liner delivery - change my delivery status form if:

  • You received liners in 2025 and don’t want to receive them in 2026.
  • You did not receive liners in 2025 and do want to receive them in 2026.

Please note that any change to your delivery status is applied to all future years. To receive liners again, you will need to contact Council to update your delivery preference.

Change my FOGO liner delivery status

Check my FOGO Liner delivery status

If you are unsure of your properties FOGO liner delivery status you can request a review of your property’s current delivery status.

Please complete a FOGO Liner delivery - check my delivery status form if:

  • You have moved house since February 2025 and want to check the delivery status of your current property.
  • You cannot remember if you received a delivery of FOGO liners during the annual delivery in March 2025.

Please note that any change to your delivery status is applied to all future years. To receive liners again, you will need to contact Council to update your delivery preference.

Check my FOGO liner delivery status

What can go in your FOGO bin

To ensure items can be processed efficiently, please be aware of what goes in your bin.

Find out how to get rid of all your unwanted waste and household items with the A to Z of waste disposal guide.

How to fill your bin

  • Place garden material loosely in your FOGO bin so that it will be emptied completely.
  • Do not use any plastic bags, wrapping or string to contain or bundle your garden waste material.
  • Do not overfill your bin, as this can lead to spillage and litter problems. Please ensure your bin lid stays closed.
  • Only use Council-supplied compostable liners for your food waste. Alternatively, you can place your food waste into your bin loose, or you can wrap your food waste in 1-2 sheets of newspaper or paper towel.
  • Place garden material with a heavy moisture content (such as freshly mown grass clippings) near the top of your bin to prevent sticking. A good hint is to mow your grass as close to collection day as possible and put the clippings on top of pruning or twigs.
  • Keep your bin under 40kg or it may not be collected. How will you know? It will be very difficult to move. The heaviest material is generally grass clippings, especially when it’s wet.

What can go in your FOGO bin?

 

Find out how to get rid of all your unwanted waste and household items using our alphabetical guide (A to Z).

Items that can go in your FOGO bin

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps, including those that are not traditionally composted at home, including citrus, garlic, onion and chilli
  • Plate scrapings, leftovers, mouldy and expired food
  • Bread, rice, pasta and cereals
  • Nuts, grains and seeds
  • Meat and bones (raw and cooked)
  • Soft seafood shells including prawn and lobster shells
  • Dairy and eggs
  • Loose tea leaves and coffee grounds
  • Desserts, pastries and cakes
  • Council-supplied liners
  • Leaves
  • Grass clippings
  • Small branches and logs (up to 10cm in diameter and 40cm in length)
  • Sticks and twigs
  • Weeds and flowers
  • Garden prunings

Download the list of what can go in your FOGO bin:

What can go in my FOGO bin - acceptable items(PDF, 95KB)

What can't go in your FOGO bin

Items that cannot go in your FOGO bin

  • Liners not supplied by Council
  • All food packaging including stickers, elastic bands and plastic wrap/cling wra
  • Compostable or biodegradable packaging
  • Nappies and sanitary items
  • Animal waste and kitty litter
  • Textiles and fabric, including natural fibres
  • Hard seafood shells, including oyster shells and clam shells
  • Liquids including cooking oil and milk
  • Teabags and coffee pods
  • Vacuum dust
  • Treated and painted timber
  • Ash, rocks and soil
  • Bricks and building materials
  • Disposable baby and makeup wipes, including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable
  • Plastic items and plastic bags
  • Polystyrene
  • Metals and wire
  • Gardening items, including plant pots, gardening tools, garden hoses

Why can’t I put pet waste in my FOGO bin?

Animal waste can often carry parasites which can be damaging to human health. To ensure the safety of the workers at our processing facility, pet faeces is not allowed. Pet medications, such as worming tablets, can also remain active during the composting process and enter our food chain.

If you want to keep your pet waste out of landfill you can set up a home composting system just for pet waste, called an Enso pet poo composter. Join our Compost Revolution program to receive up to 60% off your system and have it delivered to your door for free.

Why can’t I put compostable packaging in my FOGO bin?

Although some packaging material is labelled as compostable, it cannot be placed in your FOGO bin. It is impossible for workers or machinery to distinguish between packaging which is compostable or non-compostable when it moves through the processing facility. This is why we please ask you to keep this material out of your FOGO bin and only place food and garden waste in it.

Why can’t I put paper or cardboard in my FOGO bin?

Your FOGO bin is not designed to replace an existing collection stream, such as recycling. Paper and cardboard can be placed in your blue-lidded recycling bin to be recycled into new paper and cardboard products.

You can also place plain paper and cardboard in your home composting system. Do not place any glossy paper or waxed cardboard in your home composting system. These can go in your recycling bin.

Do I need to remove food from its packaging before placing it in my FOGO bin?

Yes. Please remove all packaging, such as rubber bands, fruit stickers and cling wrap from your food waste before placing it into your FOGO bin. If you have food in containers, please empty the food waste into your FOGO bin and place the container into your recycling bin or garbage bin (depending on what type of packaging it is).

What if I already compost or have a worm farm?

Please continue to compost your food scraps at home. This is the best outcome for our environment.

We know there are many households already home-composting or feeding their scraps to pets, and the new service isn’t designed to replace these great low-waste habits. The new service will complement home composting and will allow for other food waste, like dairy, meat, spoiled food and leftovers to be diverted from landfill as well.

Any food that you do not currently compost (such as meat, seafood, bones, citrus, dairy) can be placed in your FOGO bin, so you can divert even more food waste from landfill.

In the meantime, Council has a range of pet poo composters, food waste fermenters, worm farms and compost bins available for up to 60 per cent off through our Compost Revolution program

Frequently asked questions

How to use the FOGO liners

How do I use my kitchen caddy and compostable liners?

You can use a Council-supplied compostable liner to line your kitchen caddy, to help you collect and transport your food scraps to your FOGO bin. You may decide not to use the compostable liners provided. If you do not use the liners, you can use 1-2 sheets of newspaper or paper towel to line your caddy to help absorb any liquids. Or you can place your food scraps directly into your kitchen caddy without any form of lining.

If you use the Council-supplied liners, tear a liner off the roll and then gently rub the liner between your fingers to separate the edges of the bag. Place the liner in your kitchen caddy, securing the bag around the edge of the caddy.

Empty your caddy every 2-3 days, or when your kitchen caddy reaches three-quarters full. If you fill all the way to the top of the caddy, the bag may get too heavy and split as you try to remove it from the caddy. So, try not to overfill it. You can then carry your kitchen caddy to your FOGO bin and:

  • Tip the contents of your kitchen caddy directly into your FOGO bin (with or without a compostable liner)
  • Tie a loose knot at the top of your compostable liner and place it into your FOGO bin
  • Fold over or twist the top of your compostable liner and place it into your FOGO bin

Do I have to use the Council-supplied liners?

You do not have to use the Council-provided liners if you do not wish to. You can place your food scraps directly into your kitchen caddy or other container. You can also line your kitchen caddy with 1-2 sheets of paper towel or newspaper to absorb any liquids.

If you do wish to use liners, only the Council-supplied liners are accepted in the FOGO service. Please do not purchase any other brands or types of liners from the supermarket or other stores to use. Plastic, biodegradable or compostable liners which are not provided by Council cannot be placed in your FOGO bin, as they will cause contamination. Using Council-supplied liners only will ensure the end product is safe to use on Victorian farms.

Why do Council supply kitchen caddies and liners?

When the FOGO service was introduced in May 2023, Council supplied eligible households with a kitchen caddy and roll of 150 compostable liners to make it easier to collect food scraps in the kitchen and carry them to your FOGO bin.

Council conducts an annual delivery of compostable liners to provides eligible households with a roll of 150 compostable liners every year in March/AprilFebruary/March, if you did not previously decline to receive them (approximately 1 year’s supply). If your household runs out, top-up FOGO liner packs are available at Council’s Realm and Croydon Customer Service Centres.

If you no longer want to receive an annual supply of liners, please complete the FOGO Liner delivery - change my delivery status form.

Using Council-supplied compostable liners will help keep your caddy clean and tidy and your food scraps contained in your FOGO bin.

Only Council-supplied liners may be placed in the FOGO bin, as they’re made from plant-based materials, that break down into compost and have been tested and approved by Council’s organics processing facility. Plastic, biodegradable or compostable liners which are not supplied by Council cannot be added to the FOGO bin.

Non-compostable liners are one of the main contaminants of the FOGO service. By allowing only one liner type and colour, it’s easy for the processor to remove any other plastic bags which could contaminate the compost. Using only Council-supplied liners will ensure the end product is safe to use on Victorian farms. 

I’ve moved into a new property and there is no FOGO kit at the property. Can I please order one?

You can collect a FOGO kit from the Croydon or Realm Customer Service Centres

How can I keep my kitchen caddy and FOGO bin clean?

How can I keep my kitchen caddy clean?

  • Empty your kitchen caddy into your FOGO bin every 2-3 days.
  • Keep the lid of your kitchen caddy closed.
  • You can also store meat and dairy scraps in a container in the freezer and empty these into your FOGO bin the night before your bin is collected, rather than placing in your kitchen caddy daily.
  • Every time you empty your kitchen caddy into your FOGO bin, give your kitchen caddy a rinse.
  • Sprinkle bi-carb soda in the bottom of your kitchen caddy to keep it smelling fresh.
  • Your kitchen caddy is dishwasher safe. Place it in your dishwasher for a deeper clean once a week.
  • Use the Council-supplied compostable liners to line your kitchen caddy and contain your food scraps.
  • If you do not wish to use the Council-supplied compostable liners, you can line your kitchen caddy with 1-2 sheets of paper towel or newspaper. This will help to absorb any liquids.
  • Do not place hot foods directly into your kitchen caddy. Allow food scraps to cool before you place them into your kitchen caddy.

How can I keep my FOGO bin clean?

You can keep your bin clean and fresh by:

  • Regularly washing your bin out with a garden hose.
  • Placing a layer of garden waste (e.g. dried grass or leaves) at the bottom of your FOGO bin before adding any food waste. This will help absorb any liquids and prevent food waste from sticking to the bottom of your bin.
  • Storing meat and dairy scraps in a container in the freezer and emptying these into your FOGO bin the night before your bin is collected.
  • Layering your food waste with garden waste, starting and ending with garden waste.
  • Sprinkling bi-carb soda in the bottom of your bin to help absorb any odours.
  • Keeping your FOGO bin in a shaded area with the lid closed.
  • Collecting your food waste in the Council-supplied compostable liners. This will help contain the food waste in your FOGO bin and prevent food waste from sticking to the sides of your bin.

Read more on how to keep your FOGO caddy and bin clean in our fact sheet:

FOGO hints and tips(PDF, 85KB)

Will my FOGO bin attract pests?

No. If you keep your bin lid closed, it will not attract pests more than any other bin.

What happens to the food and garden waste?

Once it is collected by our waste trucks, food and garden waste from Maroondah households is taken to an industrial composting facility in Dandenong South, called BioGro. Your food and garden waste is then turned into a high-quality compost, used by Victorian farmers to help grow our food.

Organic waste collected in FOGO bins is processed to create nutrient-rich compost for use on Victorian farms, parks and gardens. You can view videos to see some of the examples of how your compost is used on the Back to Earth Initiative YouTube channel.

Other frequently asked questions

Why did Council introduce a FOGO service?

Implementing a FOGO service in Maroondah is one of the biggest opportunities we have to reduce carbon emissions, support sustainable food production and achieve our strategic aim of halving waste to landfill by 2030.

Over 40 per cent of waste collected in Maroondah is food waste. In landfill, food releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that is 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. The FOGO service will divert food waste from landfill and turn it in to nutrient-rich compost for use on Victorian farms and gardens.

According to the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Policy, all Victorian Councils must introduce a food organics garden organics service, and standardise their bin lid colours, by 2030.

Reducing waste to landfill by introducing a food organics garden organics service is one of the priority actions of Maroondah’s Waste, Litter and Resource Recovery Strategy 2020-2030.

Will there be any changes to when and how often my bins are collected?

No. There will be no changes to the frequency or day of your collections with the introduction of the FOGO service. The FOGO bin and mixed recycling bin will continue to be collected fortnightly and your general waste bin will continue to be collected weekly.

We will continue to monitor and review the performance of the FOGO service. If Council considers changing the frequency of the waste services, community consultation and research will be undertaken prior to any service changes. 

Since the FOGO service has started, I have noticed my general waste bin isn’t as full. Can I change the size of my general waste bin?

The standard bin size for Maroondah residents is a 120L general waste bin. Now that you are placing your food waste into your FOGO bin, if you find that your general waste bin is not as full each week, you can downsize to an 80L bin. A $74 discount applies to the 80L bin, and it is perfect for those with limited bin storage space, waste-wise households, singles, couples or small families. Contact Council to change the size of your general waste bin. The charge is applied pro-rata if you change your service during the financial year.

If you are a tenant, you will need to contact your landlord or real estate agent to arrange a change of bin size on your behalf.

My FOGO bin is already full each fortnight, I won’t have space for food waste as well, what should I do?

If you find that your FOGO bin is full each fortnight, you may wish to consider establishing a home composting system.

A home composting system can complement the use of your FOGO bin, by using additional garden waste and food waste to create compost for your garden, in addition to using your FOGO bin. Council offers Maroondah residents up to 60% off a range of home composting systems delivered for free to your door via Compost Revolution. Visit Council’s Compost Revolution website for more information and to order.

You might be surprised how much food waste can fit in your FOGO bin. Food scraps are dense and do not take up a lot of volume in your bin. To maximise the space in your FOGO bin, try layering your food waste with garden waste.

If you find you still have an excess of garden and food waste materials, you can order an additional garden waste bin. Conditions and fees apply so please contact Council to check if you’re eligible. A second FOGO bin will cost an additional $230 per year. If you are a tenant, you will need to contact your landlord or real estate agent to arrange a change of bin service on your behalf. For more information about Council’s waste charges see our fees and charges

I do not currently have a FOGO bin. How can I access this service?

The FOGO service is not available for businesses, schools and other non-residential properties. Only households with a current residential waste collection service are eligible for FOGO at this time.

If your property is serviced by a private waste collection contractor, these changes will not affect you.

Speak to your owners corporation or landlord to discuss your options for recycling food waste. If you would like to start composting at home, visit the Compost Revolution webpage to receive up to 60 per cent off the price of a range of home composting systems.

If you have a Council-provided waste service, but do not currently have a food organics garden organics bin, please contact Council on 1300 88 22 33 to check if you’re eligible.

 

Further information

For more information please contact Council on 1300 88 22 33 or email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au.

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Easy English

Our Rubbish collections in Easy English webpage gives you information that is clear and easy to understand. It is designed for people that find it hard to read, because of a disability or when English is not their main language.

Braille bin stickers

Braille bin stickers are available to residents who are blind or have low vision to help identify:

  • General rubbish bin
  • Mixed recycling bin
  • Food and garden organics bin

The stickers measure 10cm x 2cm and can be stuck to the lid, the side or front of the bin.

 

Stickers can be collected from Council’s customer service centres at Realm and Croydon.

 

If you or someone you know needs a sticker to be posted, please email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au or call Council on 1300 88 22 33 or (03) 9298 4598.

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