South West ratepayers 'disgusted' as FOGO efforts go to waste
Residents in Western Australia's South West are disappointed to learn their efforts to sort food scraps and garden trimmings from general rubbish are going to waste.
Bunbury Harvey Regional Council (BHRC) has been turning food and garden organic (FOGO) waste from homes and businesses into sellable compost and mulch for over a decade.
Until recently, it processed FOGO for more than half of the region's 12 local governments.
Amid ongoing contamination concerns, the state government awarded BHRC more than $80,000 for a FOGO decontamination project in October 2024.
City of Bunbury FOGO mascot Freddy celebrates the 10-year anniversary of green bins in 2023.
(
ABC South West: Kate Stephens
)
However, two months later, BHRC told local governments it would start diverting all FOGO to landfill due to high levels of contamination in kerbside collections.
Earlier this month, it stopped accepting FOGO altogether.
Vanessa Bennett, who lives in Capel, said she always made an effort to sort her FOGO properly and was "disgusted" to hear it was now going to landfill.
"We're paying council rates for that extra bin,"
she said.
Bunbury resident Jill Thompson, who has a large garden, said she filled her green bin to the brim every week.
She said the situation was "an absolute disaster".
Jill Thompson (left) and Vanessa Bennett are disappointed to hear their FOGO will go to landfill.
(
ABC South West: Pip Waller
)
The City of Bunbury, which is one of the local governments BHRC processes FOGO for, recently introduced an average waste charge of $50 per property to "help cover kerbside collection of domestic refuse, recyclables and organic waste".
It came on top of an average 4.1 per cent increase to existing waste management charges.
The ABC has contacted the City of Bunbury and BHRC for comment.
Contamination and capacity issues plague tip
Collie Shire president Ian Miffling said BHRC enforced a contamination limit of 1 per cent for organic waste, which he believed was unrealistic.
"That's ruled out just about everybody's FOGO because nobody can comply with that sort of ruling," he told ABC Radio South West.
Collie Shire president Ian Miffling says BHRC's 1 per cent contamination limit for FOGO waste is unachievable for local shires.
(
ABC News: Ruby Littler
)
Dardanup Shire president Tyrrell Gardiner said contamination was certainly a challenge, with residents sometimes "aspirational" about what they threw in.
In 2023, Dardanup Shire
According to Waste Authority WA, common contaminants include glass, metal, treated timber, plastics, and non-biodegradable lawn care products.
But Mr Gardiner said a 1 per cent contamination rate was not impossible to achieve with the right technology.
He said he believed BHRC's decision to pause FOGO processing was about more than contamination, with capacity issues at the facility also at play.
Waste Authority WA's guide to what should go in the green FOGO bin.
(
Supplied: Waste Authority WA
)
The state government said it was investigating alternative solutions for the area and trying to help BHRC improve its FOGO decontamination processes.
WA's Local Government Association (WALGA) said a dedicated regional strategy was urgently needed, with the state's waste management strategy largely focused on Perth and Peel.
In 2023, the federal and WA governments announced a co-investment of $11.25 million for three organic waste processing infrastructure projects, all based in Perth.
Residents stick with three-bin system
Despite red and green bin rubbish being destined for the same tip, South West shires have asked residents to continue separating their organic waste.
In a statement, the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup said that, despite seeming unnecessary, "maintaining positive waste habits" was crucial.
Green bins in the City of Bunbury and nearby shires are being tipped into general landfill.
(
ABC South West: Bridget McArthur
)
Several local governments said they were working together to find alternative FOGO processing solutions as soon as possible.
"Throwing everything into landfill, it's not sustainable … we've got to get [FOGO] to work,"
Mr Gardiner said.
Dardanup resident Billie Pollock said she was grumpy about the pause on FOGO when she felt there was a clear answer to the high contamination rates.
"The red bin should be emptied every week instead of the green one," Ms Pollock said.
"I feel like a lot of people I've seen are just putting their red bin rubbish into the green bin … because there's just not enough space."
Billie Pollock says people are putting general waste into green bins when their red bins are full.
(
ABC South West: Pip Waller
)
Ms Thompson said more education would also help reduce contamination, saying many people were still confused about what could and could not go in the green bin.
But she said if the green bins were just going to be tipped into landfill, residents should instead be provided with their own compost bins and mulchers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
26-05-2025
- West Australian
FOGO final stage estimates more than 12,500 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill each year
The City of Rockingham estimates more than 12,500 tonnes of organic waste will be diverted from landfill each year with the start roll-out of its FOGO bin change. The Food Organics and Garden Organics initiative, set to begin June 30, is the final stage of the city's three bin system brought in more than eight years ago to reduce the amount of waste being dumped in landfill. Food scraps such as bread, cereal, meat and seafood – including meat bones and shells - coffee grounds, and fruit and veggies can be added to the green-lidded bin, which will be collected weekly. Ahead of the change, the council has sent households a small kitchen caddy bin and compostable liners, along with FOGO guide. City of Rockingham mayor Deb Hamblin described the service, which has already rolled out in more than 20 other local governments across WA, including Kwinana earlier this year, as a transformational change. A waste audit in 2024 found in several Rockingham suburbs, almost half of what was being put into red waste bins and headed for the dump was organic waste, such as food scraps and garden clippings. One of the other major transformations of the incoming system is that red waste bins will be emptied fortnightly instead of weekly. Yellow-lidded recycling bins will continue to be collected fortnightly. Some households' bin day may change as well. FOGO bin contents are recycled into compost materials, such as mulch and soil conditioner, and reused in parks and gardens. 'The success of FOGO relies on everyone's participation and together we can make a meaningful difference in how we manage our waste,' Ms Hamblin said.
ABC News
25-04-2025
- ABC News
Bunbury soldier's extraordinary bravery during World War I remembered
As the faint glimmer of dawn bounced off the water of the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 15, 1915, Private Dick Clarke huddled in silent anticipation among his brothers-in-arms of the 11th Battalion. Their landing craft was approaching what would become Anzac Cove. Born Mervyn Ephraim Clarke on May 31, 1894 in the town of Bunbury, about 170 kilometres south of Perth, he was one of 10 children born to the town's first elected mayor, Ephraim Clarke, and his wife Louisa. Dick Clarke was 20 years old when he landed at Anzac Cove. ( ABC South West: Andrew Williams ) Dick and his older brother Raymond were part of the first batch of men who signed up for the Australian Imperial Forces after the outbreak of the war. They were also in the first group of soldiers to reach the beach at Anzac Cove. The battle in Gallipoli On that first day, Dick was one of eight men sent on a dangerous mission to reinforce a small, isolated trench in front of the main firing line at the bottom of Shrapnel Gully. Before long, just one man remained by Dick's side, Corporal Tom Louch. The two men had made it, but were trapped in potholes for the next four days while battle raged around them. In desperation, both men made a mad dash to escape to safety through the trench systems. Mervyn "Dick" Clarke (top right) was one of ten children. ( Supplied: Juliet Inwood ) Dick went on to become part of a celebrated Gallipoli sniping team that caused grief to Turkish sharpshooters and officers. His brother Raymond was among the sniping team, along with Bunbury friends Tom Rose and Harry Buswell. The Western Front Dick spent four months in Gallipoli before being evacuated due to illness. While he would not see any further action in Gallipoli, his war was far from over. For the next three years, Dick was plagued by illness and injury, being shot in the head twice and once in the shoulder as he fought in battles across the Western Front, including the Somme. Photo shows A son and father stand next to each other and smile. As 94-year-old Australian war veteran Patrick Forbes prepares for his final Anzac Day march, he reflects back on his family's history of service which saw three members awarded the distinguished Military Cross. He went through officer training, identified as a leader, and rose to the rank of lieutenant by July, 1917. A year later, on August 10, 1918, during an attack on an enemy stronghold near Lihons in France, Dick was struck in the face by an exploding bullet from a German sniper. Believed dead, he lay without sight for two days before he felt safe to call for help. He was horrendously wounded, suffering severe facial injuries, losing his right eye and having the optic nerve severed in his left eye. Military historian and author Jeff Peirce said of all the stories of Anzac veterans from World War I, Dick's was among the most extraordinary. "It's astounding to me that he made it through all that," he said. " There's no doubt he should have received multiple medals for bravery. " During his recovery after the war, Dick learnt carpentry and cabinet making skills at St Dunstan's, a school for blind soldiers in London. Life back in Bunbury When Dick returned to his hometown of Bunbury, with the help of his brothers, he met Irene, who he would go onto marry and raise five children with. Juliet Inwood, Dick's youngest child, said she didn't learn the extent of her father's experiences during the war until after he died in 1986. Juliet said Dick was a wonderful father to her. ( ABC South West: Andrew Williams ) "He didn't talk to me about the war," she said. "Most of it I've learnt from what's been written in these books and what they went through." Juliet said she never saw a darkness in her father, and that unlike so many other veterans of the Great War, he didn't bring it home with him. Dick was fiercely independent and never let the injuries he sustained in the war define him. "He wouldn't walk like a blind man, he would stride out," Juliet said. Dick and Irene had five children, David, Benjamin, Francis, Angela and Juliet. ( ABC South West: Andrew Williams ) She said he was kind, jovial and quite the character in Bunbury. Dick was a common sight on his tandem bike, which his children rode around town with him. "He and mum would get on the kitchen floor and do a dance, and she would say, 'Oh Dick, you are a fool,'" Juliet said. She wondered what he would think of the fuss made about him now. "It's just a pity he isn't here now to hear all the nice things we've said about him."
ABC News
23-04-2025
- ABC News
Debate over whether to remove London plane trees in Hamilton, Victoria
London plane trees provide shade and colour in many Australian urban centres, but they have come under fire in recent years due to potential health impacts and the damage their roots can cause to infrastructure. The south-west Victorian town of Hamilton, which has a population of 10,000, is deciding whether to keep its 100 or so plane trees and deal with the impact or use an upcoming CBD makeover to remove them and endure the loss of shade until replacements can grow. In the past, Helen says she has tripped on Hamilton's footpaths. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) Plane trees are attractive to some, but for people such as Helen, who did not want to provide her surname, they are a danger. She tripped and fell on a footpath damaged by plane tree roots. The roots are damaging the town's infrastructure. ( Supplied: Southern Grampians Shire Council ) "I prefer not to come into town if I can help it," Helen said. "It's very uneven — [I have to be] alert of where I'm walking." The Southern Grampians Shire office building in Hamilton is shaded by 40-year-old London plane trees. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) In April a Southern Grampians Shire Council meeting heard older people with mobility issues said they avoided the Hamilton CBD in wet weather and during the autumn because the leaves could make the footpath slippery. The council has investigated 48 falls or trips involving plane trees over the last two years. Kevin Quinn wants the London plane trees removed and replaced. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) 'Magnificent' but 'major concern' Kevin Quinn, who owns three premises in Hamilton's main street, says plane trees have damaged the footpath to a dangerous degree. "It's got to the stage where it's ongoing, people tripping, having problems walking up and down the street," he said. "I love the trees — the trees are magnificent, they're beautiful, but unfortunately the footpaths are the major concern." Mr Quinn conducted surveyed business owners and managers along Grey Street and presented the findings to the council at the April meeting. "There was overwhelming support that something had to be done about the footpaths and probably the only way we could see how was the removal and replacement of the trees," he said. "Recently the jewellery store pulled the floor up during a reno and underneath the floor was a tree root as thick as your arm all the way through to the back of the end of the building. " We can't stick our head in the sand any longer — it needs to be addressed. " A council officer's report tabled at the April meeting noted roots had started to undermine buildings, block pipes and clog toilets. Southern Grampians Shire Council has documented damage to a building on Gray street caused by plane tree roots. ( Supplied: Southern Grampians Shire Council ) Hundreds support saving trees Sarah Hope, who lives with her family on a farm just outside Hamilton, has drawn the support of five former Southern Grampians mayors in her campaign to save the trees. "I could quite possibly put myself between a tree and a bulldozer," she said. "I know they cause issues, but we absolutely love the beauty of them. " By removing the trees you're going to take the heart out of Hamilton. " Sarah Hope is pushing to save the trees from removal. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) Ms Hope started a petition that has attracted about 450 signatures and has sought legal advice. At the council's March meeting she expressed her worry about the loss of beauty in the town and how it might affect tourism. "As it stands many of the shopfronts sorely require maintenance and removing the trees will not only eliminate Hamilton's unique ambience, but leave a street like a mouthful of broken teeth," she said. The trees provide essential shade in the hot summer months. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) Ms Hope was also worried about the loss of shade and said the plane trees made a significant difference to the temperature. "When you live on a farm and it's hot and dry and you've got day after day after day of hot temperatures, you can head into town," she said. Ms Hope says the trees add character to the town. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) Search for 'happy medium' Many cities and towns are grappling with the plane tree problem, including in Sydney, where they are being Plane trees are still present in Bendigo but the council has banned their planting in urban settings. The City of Melbourne says plane trees are "over-represented in the central city, making up 63 per cent of all trees" and plans to reduce that figure to less than 20 per cent. According to Southern Grampians Shire Council the damage caused by plane trees is costing $270,000 in maintenance each year. London plane flowers release pollen, but the trichomes on their leaves are a more common irritant. ( ABC South West Vic: Emily Bissland ) Almost $1.35 million has been spent in the last five years and council staff have estimated that maintenance costs could increase by 25 per cent as the trees grow. The council has commissioned several arborist reports and has excavated small sections of the main street to look at the roots. In February the council released a draft concept plan for the new streetscape that less invasive species in place of the plane trees. Southern Grampians Shire Mayor Dennis Heslin says the council is trying to find the middle ground. ( Supplied: Southern Grampians Shire ) At the Southern Grampians council meeting in April council officers submitted a lengthy report recommending the draft concept plan for Hamilton's CBD revitalisation be approved, but council voted to delay the decision and search for a compromise. "We will go back to the architect and we want to see a design that shows an option that includes the retention of the trees," Mayor Dennis Heslin said. "We'll identify those problematic trees both in terms of their disruption to building and disruption to footpath and roads. "It's not the hokey-pokey, half in, half out," he said. " It's trying to find a happy medium. "
