Green means 'GO' for $63m contract

Published 5:00am 23 November 2023

Words by Nick Crockford

The City of Moreton Bay has awarded a $63.5 million contract to Cleanaway for a new garden organics (GO) collection service.

Stage 1 will see the launch of a GO waste collection in December 2024, with households getting a new 240-litre lime green-lidded bin.

Stage 2 will see the GO service become a Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) service once access has been secured to food and garden organics processing.

Mayor Peter Flannery says the new service is a significant step towards environmental sustainability and proactive waste management.

"Food scraps and garden clippings are nearly half of all waste in our domestic general waste bins,” he says.

“The initiative aligns with our commitment to sustainability and going green as we grow.

"The introduction of garden organics bins in stage 1 of the service and transition of these to accept food and garden organics in stage 2 is expected to bolster the city's recycling and environmental sustainability efforts.

"Our organics collection service is set to unfold in two stages, with an extensive communication and education campaign.”

Cleanaway's scope of services under this contract involves the supply and maintenance of bins as well as collection of organic material.

Council anticipates $7.5 million in funding from the Queensland Government's 'Growing the Recovery of Organic Waste via Food Organic Garden Organic (GROW FOGO)' for the initial bin roll-out.

Specific eligibility criteria for the kerbside organics service will apply, with the GO and FOGO collection services offering varying bin sizes and collection frequencies.

By processing food organics and garden organics (FOGO) waste, the service aims to generate valuable resources, cut landfill waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This initiative will support Council’s Environment and Sustainability Strategy, including the target of achieving net zero emissions by 2039.

FOGO also aligns with City of Moreton Bay's regional waste management plans, Queensland's Organics Strategy 2022-2032 and Council's commitment to the SEQ Waste Management Plan.

For the latest City of Moreton Bay FOGO updates and information click here