Let’s go FOGO and glass!

The City of Ballarat has this week begun collecting FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) and glass recycling, making it easier than ever to recycle and reduce waste.

Households can now start using their lime green lid FOGO bins for food and garden waste and new purple lid bins for glass recycling.

The municipality’s first dedicated FOGO and glass recycling collections are part of the City of Ballarat’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future and meeting state-wide waste reduction targets.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said it was a proud moment for our community.

“Our city has reached a major milestone this week with the introduction of a fortnightly FOGO service and a monthly glass collection service.”  

“The valuable materials collected from your FOGO and glass bins will be recycled into new products and contribute towards a cleaner, greener Ballarat,” she said.

“I am incredibly proud to lead a city that is embracing new ways of managing our waste. I have no doubt that our community will step up and play their part in sorting their waste across four bins – FOGO, glass, mixed recycling and household waste.”

The table below provides a helpful snapshot of what residents need to do with their FOGO and glass bins:

One young community member who is embracing the waste collection changes is seven-year-old, Jake of Brown Hill who has previously been profiled on the front page of the Brown Hill Community Newsletter and is described as a “waste warrior”.

This week he got to meet the City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves as his FOGO bin was collected for the first time.

“On bin day, I get up early and wait for the garbo rain, hail or shine!  Once I see the truck, I film the truck collecting all the bins whilst I run up and down the street. I like to watch the bins get collected and to watch the forks pick up the bins and watch the waste go into the truck.  I'm most interested in the green bins.”

“I go down the street and pick up bins that have fallen over to help the garbo out. In summer and spring when my neighbour’s bins are dirty, I make a time to clean them out with a pressure washer. I'm very passionate about waste collection,” said Jake.

For tips on what goes in which bin, visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/waste. Residents are encouraged to download the free Ballarat Waste app via the App Store or on Google Play.

Residents can also access a 12-month bin collection calendar for their address in other ways.

Visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/waste to download a printable version of the Digital Waste Collection Calendar or contact Customer Service on 5320 5500 to have one printed and posted to you.