Council to introduce FOGO service, glass drop-off network

Published on 19 August 2026

Mount Alexander Shire Council has approved major changes to household waste and recycling services, with a new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside collection service and a dedicated glass recycling drop-off network to be introduced from July 2027.

Under Victorian Government reforms, councils are required to provide a FOGO service and separate glass from mixed recycling. The approved changes will ensure Mount Alexander Shire complies with these requirements while delivering local environmental benefits.

The FOGO service is about getting kitchen scraps, food and garden waste out of landfill. This can radically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save significant sums of money.

Council will provide an opt-out function to those who can demonstrate they are effectively managing their food and garden organics at home or through a community-composting program. 

This is because we recognise that the best outcomes will be achieved with a diversified approach that involves supporting the great work of home composters as well as community-composting groups while at the same time providing a simple and convenient FOGO bin service for others.

In July 2027, the following changes will take effect:

Lime-green-lid bin (FOGO)

• New weekly kerbside collection service.
• Accepts food scraps and garden waste.
• Organic material will be processed into valuable compost locally, instead of going to landfill.

Red-lid bin (General waste)

• Collection frequency will change from weekly to fortnightly.
• Households will be encouraged to compost at home, join a community-composting group or use the FOGO service to divert food and garden waste from the general waste stream.

Yellow-lid bin (Mixed recycling)

• No change to collection arrangements.
• Will continue to accept items such as hard plastics, cardboard, paper, aluminium and steel cans.

Glass recycling

• Glass bottles and jars will no longer be placed in mixed recycling bins.
• Residents will be able to recycle glass at dedicated drop-off locations across the shire and continue to recycle eligible glass containers at Container Deposit Scheme depots.

Benefits of the FOGO service

Waste audits show that around one third of the material currently placed in general rubbish bins across the shire is food and garden organics.

By diverting this material away from the red bins, more organic waste can be turned into compost rather than being sent to landfill. Composting organic material is cheaper than landfill disposal and creates a valuable resource that helps return nutrients to local soils.

The new FOGO service is expected to divert up to 900 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1,035 tonnes annually.

Mayor Toby Heydon said the changes would deliver long-term environmental and community benefits.

“If we can get organic matter out of landfill, this will be the equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions savings as taking one-in-nine cars off the roads! These changes will help our community recycle more, send less waste to landfill and make better use of valuable resources that would otherwise be lost. By turning FOGO into compost and mulch, we can also make a real impact on the health of our soils, which is of fundamental importance for the future sustainability of our shire,” Mayor Heydon said.

“We understand that moving to a fortnightly rubbish collection will be a significant change for some households, but experience from councils across Victoria shows that once food and garden waste is removed, the amount of rubbish remaining in the red bin is significantly reduced. Larger households and those with greater needs for rubbish collection will be able to apply for a larger red-lid bin.

"By introducing FOGO and a dedicated glass recycling network, we're creating a waste system that delivers environmental benefits, meets future requirements and provides value for our community."

Supporting local composting

Council recognises the strong culture of home composting, worm farming and community composting across the shire. The FOGO service is intended to complement these efforts, not replace them.

Residents who can demonstrate they are effectively managing their food and garden organics at home or through a recognised community composting program, such as YIMBY, will be able to apply to opt out of the FOGO service. Eligibility criteria and a rebate are currently being considered.

Why a glass drop-off network?

Council considered both kerbside and drop-off glass recycling models and determined a drop-off network is the most practical and cost-effective option for Mount Alexander Shire.

The introduction of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme has significantly reduced the amount of glass entering household recycling systems, making a separate kerbside service less efficient. A glass drop-off network is estimated to cost around 80 per cent less than a kerbside glass collection service while still providing residents with an effective recycling option.

Council will work with older residents, people living with disability, residents without access to transport and community organisations to explore practical solutions that support accessibility and participation.

What happens next?

Council will now finalise contracts and continue detailed service planning. In early 2027, Council will confirm service costs, finalise FOGO opt-out arrangements and consult with the community on the location of glass drop-off sites.

The new services are scheduled to begin in July 2027.