Some residents say no to FOGO

The Food Organics Garden Organics bins have been rolled out to residents across the Shire of Harvey, but some residents are not happy with the new system.

Northern parts of the shire were among the first to receive the bins, and several Cookernup residents in particular are unhappy with the bins, saying they did not want the bins and had been told by council staff they could not opt out of the new kerbside collection.

Cookernup resident Lisa Rodsted said she knew she would have no need for the organics bin before the rollout began.

“I have no need for it, I compost, I have a worm farm,” Ms Rodsted said.

“We were told we have to have them if we are in a residential area.”

Ms Rodsted said she contacted the council to ask them to take the bins back, but said her request was denied.

She then asked if she could opt out of kerbside collection altogether, but said she was told it was mandatory.

“I was really peeved off and I can’t even return my bins,” Ms Rodsted said.

Other residents took to social media to air their frustration with the new system, many saying they lived on farming properties and had no need for organics kerbside collection.

Harvey shire chief executive officer Annie Riordan said council staff had received mostly positive responses about the bins and only three residents had refused the bins.

She said the FOGO system was considered most suitable to help achieve the State Government’s target of 50 per cent diversion from landfill by 2020 in regional areas.

“As the FOGO bin will be part of the standard waste service and an aim of the State Waste Strategy that all households move to a three-bin FOGO system by 2025, it is essential that all households are included in the FOGO bin rollout.”

She said the bins were rolled out to those who currently had a general waste and recycling service, regardless of their property’s zoning.

“Anyone outside the townsite boundaries who currently receive a general waste and recycling service will receive a FOGO bin and those who have not got an existing waste service will not get a FOGO bin,” she said.