FOGO Bins & Green Waste Bins for Sale

FOGO Bins & Food Waste Bins FAQs

Our team are here to help with any questions you may have.

What is a FOGO bin and how does it work?

A FOGO bin is used to collect Food Organics and Garden Organics, allowing organic waste to be separated from general waste and processed into compost. Instead of sending food scraps and green waste to landfill, FOGO systems divert this material to specialised facilities where it is broken down into nutrient-rich compost or soil conditioners.

In a typical setup, food waste is first collected in a small internal bin such as a kitchen caddy or pedal bin, then transferred to a larger external wheelie bin for collection. This two-step process improves hygiene, reduces contamination, and ensures waste is handled efficiently. FOGO systems are now widely used across Australia as part of broader waste reduction and sustainability initiatives.

What types of FOGO bins do I need for my business or site?

The right FOGO bin setup depends on the size of your site, the amount of food waste generated, and how waste is collected. Most businesses use a combination of small internal food waste bins and larger external wheelie bins to create an efficient waste separation system.

For kitchens, lunchrooms, cafés, and food preparation areas, smaller pedal bins and kitchen caddies are ideal for collecting daily food scraps and organics. Larger 80L to 240L wheelie bins are commonly used outdoors for bulk storage and council or contractor collection. Offices, schools, shopping centres, and shared facilities often benefit from multi-stream recycling stations that separate FOGO waste alongside general waste and recycling to reduce contamination and improve compliance.

Choosing the correct FOGO bins helps improve hygiene, simplify waste handling, and ensure your site aligns with Australian waste management and recycling requirements.

Are FOGO bins mandatory and what are the legal requirements?

FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) systems are becoming mandatory across Australia as part of national waste reduction targets designed to reduce landfill and recover organic waste for composting. In NSW, staged regulations will require many businesses, including hospitality venues, supermarkets, schools, healthcare facilities, and large commercial sites, to separate food waste from general waste between 2026 and 2030. Households across NSW will also be required to have access to kerbside FOGO collection services by 2030.

Similar FOGO programs are expanding nationally, including across Perth metropolitan councils under the Waste Authority WA three-bin system. To comply, businesses and facilities typically need to provide clearly labelled FOGO bins, separate food organics correctly, and reduce contamination through proper signage and waste systems. Failure to comply may result in contamination charges, increased collection costs, or council penalties.

Using the correct FOGO bin setup helps businesses and households stay compliant, improve hygiene, reduce landfill waste, and support Australian sustainability goals.

What size FOGO bin should I choose?

The right bin size depends on the volume of organic waste generated and how frequently it is collected. Smaller bins (30L–50L) are suitable for light use in offices or small kitchens, while medium bins (80L–100L) are commonly used in staff areas or food preparation spaces.

For external collection, 120L and 240L wheelie bins are standard and provide enough capacity for most households and small to medium businesses. Larger operations, such as commercial kitchens or food production facilities, may require multiple bins or higher-capacity systems to manage waste effectively.

It is important to choose a size that prevents overflow while still being practical for handling and storage. Oversized bins can lead to unnecessary space usage, while undersized bins may result in hygiene issues or increased collection frequency.

What can and can’t go in a FOGO bin?

FOGO bins are designed for organic waste only. This includes food scraps such as fruit and vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, bread, coffee grounds, and eggshells, as well as garden waste like grass clippings, leaves, and small branches.

Items that should not be placed in a FOGO bin include plastic bags, packaging, glass, metal, liquids, and general rubbish. These materials contaminate the composting process and may result in the entire bin being rejected.

What are the benefits of using FOGO bins?

Using FOGO bins helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, which in turn lowers greenhouse gas emissions produced by decomposing organic materials. It also supports the production of compost that can be used in agriculture, landscaping, and soil improvement.

For businesses, FOGO systems can assist with meeting regulatory requirements, improving waste management practices, and supporting sustainability goals. They also help create cleaner, more organised waste handling processes, particularly in food service and high-use environments.

Implementing a proper FOGO system is not only an environmental decision but also a practical step towards compliance and operational efficiency.

FOGO Bins & Food Waste Bins

FOGO bins (Food Organics and Garden Organics) are designed to separate organic waste from general landfill, allowing food scraps and green waste to be recycled into compost. These bins are now a standard part of waste systems across Australia and are becoming mandatory for both households and businesses.

This category includes a full range of FOGO bin solutions, from compact kitchen and indoor pedal bins to large outdoor wheelie bins and commercial waste stations. Smaller pedal bins (30L–100L) are suited to kitchens, offices, and food prep areas for daily waste collection, while larger 80L–240L wheelie bins are used for bulk storage and collection. For shared spaces, recycling stations provide a clear and structured way to separate organic waste alongside general waste and recycling streams.

FOGO systems are now being implemented nationally as part of Australia’s long-term waste reduction strategy. In Western Australia, the Waste Authority WA has introduced a standardised three-bin FOGO system across the Perth metropolitan area. Under this system, households separate food and garden waste into a lime-green lidded FOGO bin collected weekly, while recycling and general waste bins are collected fortnightly. Many Perth councils now provide kitchen caddies and compostable liners to support household food waste separation. The City of Melbourne FOGO service is a clear example of how councils roll out food and garden organics collection.

A typical setup includes a small internal bin (such as a pedal bin or caddy) for collecting food waste, which is then transferred to a larger external wheelie bin for collection. This reduces contamination, improves cleanliness, and supports consistent waste separation practices.

FOGO bins are suitable for collecting a wide range of organic materials, including:

Fruit and vegetable scraps
Meat, seafood, and bones
Dairy products and eggshells
Coffee grounds and tea bags
Grass clippings and garden pruning's

Items such as plastic bags, soft plastics, glass, metals, nappies, treated timber, and hazardous waste should not be placed in FOGO bins, as contamination can affect compost processing and council compliance requirements.

When selecting FOGO bins, it’s important to align with Australian waste colour coding and signage standards to improve user compliance and reduce contamination. Matching indoor and outdoor waste streams with clearly labelled recycling stations creates a cleaner and more effective waste management system for offices, commercial buildings, hospitality venues, schools, and public spaces.

For additional guidance, see:

Choosing the right FOGO bins ensures your site is compliant, easy to maintain, and aligned with Australian waste standards.