Randwick City households can expect to receive a new pack of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) caddy liners over the next month as Compost Awareness Week gets under way.

Randwick Council will distribute FOGO bags to 60,000 households, starting this week on Monday 6 May 2024. Each household will receive a pack of 52 liners. During the four-week delivery period, residents will not be able to order liners online or over the phone. Requests for liners will resume on Monday 3 June 2024.

Households can also use newspaper, brown paper bags, or other 100 per cent compostable (AS4736 certified) liners in their caddies. Caddies can also be used without liners.

Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch encouraged households that do not require FOGO liners to share their new pack with neighbours and friends.

“A big thank you to everyone who has embraced FOGO. Together, we are diverting an average of 1,200 tonnes of organic waste from landfill a month,” Mayor Veitch said.

“If you have new residents in your area or know of people who haven’t started using their FOGO bins, encourage them to join the initiative.”

Council’s FOGO waste collection program began in March 2021, when green lid bins, kitchen caddies and FOGO liners were introduced to residents.

The program diverts food waste from landfill and converts it to compost, which can be used in places such as farms, gardens, parks, and sports fields.

“Staggering amounts of food waste ends up in landfill every year,” Mayor Veitch said. “It’s one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

“By composting our food scraps and garden waste, we not only divert organic matter from landfills and reduce our emissions, but we also create nutrient-rich compost for our soils.”

Only food and garden waste should be thrown in FOGO green lid bins. For more information about FOGO, visit Council’s website.

Compost Awareness Week is from Sunday 5 May to Saturday 11 May 2024.

In addition to taking part in the FOGO service, residents can:

• join the Compost Revolution to get a discounted worm farm or compost bin at up to 70 per cent off;
• join a free beginners workshop on composting and worm farming;
• check out tips on how to reduce food waste at Love Food Hate Waste - NSW