Several Sydney councils, including Northern Beaches Council and the City of Sydney, have commenced trials for dedicated burgundy wheelie bins solely for food waste. These initiatives aim to reduce the volume of food scraps sent to landfills, aligning with a New South Wales Government mandate requiring all councils to implement systems for collecting and recycling kitchen waste by 2030. The trials follow reports of challenges encountered with existing combined food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection systems.
NSW Government Mandate and FOGO Challenges
The NSW Government has mandated that all local councils implement systems for collecting and recycling kitchen waste by the year 2030. This directive is part of broader waste reduction strategies across the state.
Currently, many residents utilize green-lid FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) bins, which are designed for the combined collection of food scraps and garden waste. However, reports have indicated that this system has presented challenges in some areas, including concerns regarding odor, bins overflowing, and adjustments to collection frequencies.
Northern Beaches Council's Phase 2 Trial Details
Northern Beaches Council has initiated Phase 2 of its waste management plans, which focuses on the separate collection of food waste. This current trial follows Phase 1, during which 1,700 households participated by collecting food waste in small caddy bins and depositing it into their existing green bins.
The ongoing Phase 2 trial involves 1,200 households located across the suburbs of Terrey Hills, Fairlight, and Manly Vale. Participants in this trial will receive a dedicated burgundy wheelie bin for food waste, in addition to a kitchen caddy. Garden organics will continue to be collected separately in the existing green bins.
The trial is scheduled to run for a period of 20 weeks, from April 21 to September 2, 2026.
A Fifth Bin for Participating HouseholdsFor participating Northern Beaches residents, the burgundy bin will be their fifth wheelie bin. Their existing bins include:
- Red for general waste
- Blue for paper and cardboard
- Yellow for bottles and containers
- Green for garden waste
Broader Implementation
The City of Sydney council has also implemented a similar initiative for dedicated food waste collection.
Accepted and Excluded Items for the Burgundy Bin
The dedicated burgundy bin is designated exclusively for food scraps.
Items permitted in the burgundy bin include:
- Leftovers
- Fruits and vegetables
- Dairy products
- Meat and small bones
- Tea bags
- Coffee grounds
Items explicitly not to be included in the burgundy bin are:
- Garden organics, such as branches or grass
- Large bones or shells, such as oyster or mussel shells
Council Objectives and Environmental Responsibility
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins has stated that the initiative represents "one of the most significant changes to household waste services in decades."
The council's objective for the current trial is to identify an effective and practical system that is suitable for diverse community living situations, with the aim of establishing an environmentally responsible service.