State’s largest local government launches small-scale FOGO trial
The City of Stirling is launching a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) trial that will help inform the future of waste services in the state’s largest local government.
The 24-week trial will be conducted in Coolbinia, a small suburb where the community has expressed a keen interest in sustainability, recycling and FOGO.
Many local governments in WA have already introduced FOGO, with some facing challenges around service changes and community readiness.
Coolbinia has been identified as an ideal setting for a controlled trial that can help the City take a measured, evidence-based approach shaped by local experiences.
The small-scale trial will be conducted in line with the Waste Authority’s Better Practice Guidelines and will only involve single-dwelling homes.
Waste services will not be affected for multi-unit dwellings in Coolbinia and all residents outside the suburb of Coolbinia.
The trial will run from 15 May to 29 October 2026, with the first weekly collection of the lime green lid FOGO bin on Thursday 21 May.
Each of the 535 single-dwelling households in Coolbinia will receive a free 7L kitchen caddy and compostable liners to help them dispose of food scraps.
If residents have specific needs or conditions that require additional waste capacity, the City will work with them to find a solution, which may include a larger general waste bin.
FOGO aims to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill by separating it at the source and allowing it to be turned into high-quality compost instead.
A simple way to remember what belongs in a FOGO bin is the phrase: ‘If it didn't live or grow, it’s not FOGO’.
“Our community and our Council are serious about reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill – and there’s no doubt that FOGO could play a big part in that,” Mayor Mark Irwin said.
“The City of Stirling is home to 250,000 people, so if we’re going to do this, we want to make sure we’re doing it right and we want to be confident it’s going to work.
“This trial will allow us to work closely with Coolbinia residents to identify challenges and get honest feedback as we look at the future of FOGO in the City.”
To learn more, visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/coolbiniafogotrial
