Join the Conversation on a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Bin

Lithgow City Council has commenced community consultation on the introduction of a new ‘green bin’.  The green bin is a new kerbside wheelie bin, with a green lid, for the collection of household food organics and garden organics waste. 

This green bin is known as a ‘FOGO’ bin. ‘FOGO’ stands for ‘food organics and garden organics’.

The FOGO bin will take the waste organic material from households such as food scraps, garden cuttings, grass clippings and prunings. This organic material will be converted to compost and recycled, for use in agriculture and landscaping, instead of being sent to landfill.

Removing organic waste from landfill helps save landfill space.  Keeping organic waste out of landfill also helps to reduce emissions of methane which, as a greenhouse gas, is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The compost and soil conditioner produced by recycling organic material also helps to improve soil, making it a valuable resource for use on farms, sports fields and gardens.

Residents of the Lithgow LGA are invited to read the FOGO Proposal and complete a survey to take part in the conversation on this proposed FOGO service.

Lithgow City Council’s Mayor Maree Stratham said, “This proposal for a new green bin, to collect food organics and garden organics, is an exciting opportunity for improved waste management in the Lithgow LGA. The proposed FOGO service will increase service levels for our community and offer considerable environmental benefits. I encourage everyone to get involved in the consultation process.”

The community consultation process will run from Monday, 20 February to Monday, 20 March 2023. Residents are encouraged to read the FOGO Proposal for more information about the proposed service and they are invited to complete the FOGO survey to make submissions.

The FOGO Proposal and FOGO Survey are available online through Council’s website. Copies of the FOGO Proposal and FOGO Survey are also available at Council’s Administration Building and at Council’s library branches at Lithgow, Portland and Wallerawang.

The FOGO survey must be submitted no later than 4pm on Monday, 20 March 2023.

Following the exhibition period, all survey responses on the proposed FOGO bin will be reviewed.  A finalised version of the FOGO Proposal, incorporating and addressing the responses from the public, will then be put to Council.  A decision will be made on adoption of the FOGO service at this time.

Should you require further information, please contact Council on 6354 9999.