We’re considering updates to our waste services to help reduce landfill and improve recycling.
The proposal includes introducing two new services:
- A Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside collection.
- A separate glass drop-off network located across the shire.
Under the proposed changes:
- FOGO would be collected weekly from households.
- General waste collection would move from weekly to fortnightly.
- Glass would be recycled at ten local drop-off points rather than kerbside collection.
- Mixed recycling would be collected fortnightly from households.
These changes aim to make it easier for residents to sort waste, recover valuable materials and support a more sustainable waste system for the shire.
Why is Council considering these changes?
These proposed changes are part of a statewide shift to a four-stream waste system. Victorian Government policy requires council to provide four separate waste services to households:
- Food organics and garden organics
- General waste
- Glass recycling
- Mixed recycling
Council is considering introducing FOGO and glass services in July 2027.
A combined rollout would:
- Reduce costs by streamlining planning and delivery
- Simplify the transition for residents
- Support lasting behaviour change with one clear system
Some other benefits include:
- Less waste going to landfill – The proposed FOGO system will divert as much as 900 tonnes of organic waste from landfill annually in Mount Alexander Shire.
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions – Organic waste in landfill produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. Diverting it will help us reduce emissions by 1,035 tonnes annually.
Costs and value
Waste services are funded through the Waste Service Charge.
Council will:
- Carefully manage costs
- Use long-term contracts to improve efficiency
- Reduce costs over time by lowering landfill disposal
Any changes to charges would be confirmed through the 2027/2028 budget process.
What happens next?
Council has not yet made a final decision. If approved, further planning, community education and service rollout would follow, with a proposed start in July 2027.
Further updates will be provided as Council considers this proposal.
Together, we can reduce waste, recover resources and build a more sustainable Mount Alexander Shire.
Why is Council considering these changes?
These proposed changes are part of a statewide shift to a four-stream waste system. Under Victorian Government law, councils must provide four separate waste services to households:
- Food organics and garden organics (FOGO)
- General waste
- Mixed recycling
- Glass recycling
Council is considering introducing FOGO and glass services in July 2027.
A combined rollout would:
- Reduce costs by streamlining planning and delivery
- Simplify the transition for residents
- Support lasting behaviour change with one clear system
Costs and value
Waste services are funded through the Waste Service Charge.
Council will:
- Carefully manage costs
- Use long-term contracts to improve efficiency
- Reduce costs over time by lowering landfill disposal
Any changes to charges would be confirmed through the 2027/2028 budget process.
What happens next?
Council has not yet made a final decision. If approved, further planning, community education and service rollout would follow, with a proposed start in July 2027.
Further updates will be provided as Council considers this proposal.
Together, we can reduce waste, recover resources and build a more sustainable Mount Alexander Shire.
What is FOGO?
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics.
It allows you to recycle:
- Food scraps (fruit, vegetables, meat, bones)
- Garden clippings (grass, leaves, branches)
- Other compostable materials
Under the proposed model for Mount Alexander Shire:
- FOGO would be collected weekly
- Materials would be processed locally within the Shire
- Outputs would become high-quality mulch/compost for local use
Each household would receive:
- A FOGO kerbside bin
- A kitchen caddy for easy food scrap separation
Opting out of FOGO
You will be able to request to opt out of the proposed FOGO service.
The process – including eligibility criteria and application steps – will be finalised early in the 2026/2027 financial year, before the service starts in July 2027.
The opt-out process will be developed with input from the Community Waste Reference Group to make sure it reflects community needs.
Ensuring quality
To produce safe, high-quality compost:
- Contamination must remain below 2%
- Materials will be checked before processing
- Output will meet or exceed Australian standards
A strong education program will support residents to use the system correctly.
How council will ensure high-quality compost from FOGO
The proposed FOGO system is designed to turn food and garden organics (FOGO) into safe, high-quality compost here in the shire. FOGO processing will be managed with clear standards and the final product will be suitable for many different uses.
Meeting Quality Standards
All compost produced must meet the Australian Standard AS4454-2012 (or higher). This standard sets clear rules to make sure compost is safe, well-processed and ready to use. Meeting this standard means the compost can be used with confidence in a wide range of settings.
To make sure these standards are always met, Council will carry out regular quality testing. This ongoing testing will check that the compost stays safe and consistent.
Keeping Contamination Low
Good compost starts with clean input. To produce high-quality compost, contamination must stay below 2%.
To help with this:
- FOGO collected from households will be checked at the Castlemaine Transfer Station
- Staff will remove any unsuitable items before processing
This gives Council direct control over the quality of materials going into the process and follows best-practice advice from industry experts.
Helping Residents Get It Right
The quality of compost depends on how well waste is sorted at home. Council will run a community education campaign to help residents:
- Know what can and can’t go in the FOGO bin
- Sort their waste correctly at home
- Understand how good sorting reduces landfill and improves recycling
What will the compost be used for?
FOGO materials will be processed into high-quality compost that can be reused locally.
Proposed uses include:
- Council parks and gardens – improving soil health and supporting tree planting
- Community projects – such as Landcare and local environmental activities
- Agriculture – potential future use to support local farming
- Residents – available in bags or bulk, either free or at low cost
Producing compost locally means valuable nutrients are returned to the soil, supporting healthy landscapes and reducing waste.
Council is also considering a glass drop-off network.
How it would work
- Eight drop-off sites would be set up across the shire, in addition to the Castlemaine and Maldon transfer stations
- Locations would be selected for easy and fair access
- Glass bins would be flexible and could be relocated if needed
- Glass would be sent directly to a specialised recycling facility
Why a drop‑off network instead of kerbside collection?
Mount Alexander Shire is moving to a glass drop‑off network because a separate kerbside glass service is no longer the most effective option.
- Less glass to collect: Since Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) began, much of the glass that used to go in household bins is now returned through the scheme.
- Lower value for kerbside collection: With reduced volumes, a kerbside service would be less efficient and more expensive to run.
- Environmental impact: Additional collection trucks would increase fuel use and emissions.
- Sector-wide experience: Many Victorian councils report low participation, higher costs, and limited extra environmental benefits from kerbside glass services.
A drop‑off network is a more practical, cost‑effective solution for a small regional council, while still supporting recycling and reducing waste.
Reduce waste to landfill
- Waste audits show a large portion of household rubbish (up to 900 tonnes annually in Mount Alexander Shire) is organic and can be composted instead of sent to landfill.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Organic waste in landfill produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. Diverting it will help us reduce emissions by 1,035 tonnes annually.
Support a circular economy
- Recovered materials are reused, turning waste into valuable resources like compost.
Meet state requirements
- Introducing these services ensures Council complies with Victorian legislation and avoids penalties.
Respond to community demand
- 48% of community respondents to the Waste Management Strategy requested assistance in processing FOGO.
- Over 1,900 households already use private garden organics services.
- Residents will benefit from a modern waste service.
- Council will stay up-do-date – 53 of 79 Victorian councils already offer FOGO services.
The financial benefit of implementing FOGO in July 2027
The cost of delaying the implementation of a FOGO service amounts to around $400,000 per year.
This is due to:
- Higher costs for sending organic waste to landfill instead of composting.
- Rising future contract costs driven by:
- Inflation (CPI)
- Fuel prices
- Labour costs
- Equipment replacement
Council recognises and supports home and community composting initiatives like Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY).
- FOGO is not intended to replace home and community composting
- Residents can request to opt out of the FOGO service if they manage organics effectively at home
- Council will continue to support and expand local community composting initiatives
Your questions will help us to provide answers at the community meeting and on this page.
Click here to view form.