4 days ago
Council warns residents over common FOGO bin mistake that 'poses a safety risk'
As food and garden organics (FOGO) bins continue to be distributed to residents across the country, one council gearing up for its own rollout is answering a commonly asked question about the bins. And the answer is a resounding no.
Burnie City Council in Tasmania will begin handing out FOGO bins next month, and in preparation the council's Director of Operations, Damien Aherne, is warning residents not to put roadkill into their FOGO bins.
Mayor Teeny Brumby told Yahoo News the somewhat surprising question has been asked time and time again by residents.
"In the delivery of the FOGO service across the NW Region of Tasmania in 2024, councils... had the question many times about whether the FOGO bin could be used to collect roadkill," Brumby explained.
Roadkill is common in Tasmania. In fact, the state has even been referred to as the 'roadkill capital of the world' as hundreds of thousands of animals are struck and killed on the roads every year.
The state experiences a high level of roadkill for various reasons, including the large number of native wildlife populations, their nocturnal behaviour as well as general road design and conditions.
Why can't I put roadkill into my FOGO bin?
Brumby told Yahoo that placing roadkill into FOGO bins poses biosecurity concerns as the disposal and composting process involves some workers physically handling the waste, and therefore being exposed to decaying animals.
"The practical consideration is that the material from the bins is sorted both by hand and machine, and handling dead animals is both a health hazard, as well as a psychological risk to workers in the facility," he said.
"It poses a safety risk to them. Simply put, roadkill is not a 'Food Organic'.
"Native animals may be infested with parasites or disease, and data is limited on how the composting processes neutralise the risk," he said.
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FOGO rollout continues to divide Australians
Tasmania's adoption of FOGO bins is occurring later than other states and territories on the mainland, with millions of Australians already living with the waste removal system for over a year now. However it's been a mixed bag with how residents have embraced the change.
While some have enjoyed it, others have openly admitted to simply using their FOGO countertop bin as a doorstop instead of waste.
New South Wales has pledged to mandate FOGO in the state by 2030, and councils there are rushing to jump on the scheme.
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