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Forget composting your coffee grounds – some Aussies are trying to turn their green bins into makeshift pet cemeteries.
As councils across the nation roll out the green bins aimed at reducing landfill, Burnie City Council in Tasmania has been fielding a rather unusual question from residents. Can they toss their deceased furry (or feathered) friends into the FOGO bin?
The answer, according to Mayor Teeny Brumby, is a firm “no”.
“In the delivery of the FOGO service across the NW Region of Tasmania in 2024, councils… had the question many times about whether the FOGO bin could be used to collect roadkill,” she explained.
Tasmania, sadly known as the ‘roadkill capital of the world’ due to the high number of animals struck on its roads each year, is grappling with this peculiar problem as it prepares to distribute FOGO bins next month.
The state’s unique wildlife, nocturnal animal behaviour, and road conditions contribute to the grim statistic.
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Australians have been warned not to put roadkill in their FOGOs, as demonstrated by Burnie City Council’s Damien Aherne. Source: Facebook/Burnie City Council & Supplied
But why the hard no on roadkill in the FOGO?
According to the council’s Director of Operations, Damien Aherne, it all boils down to biosecurity and worker safety.
The FOGO waste is sorted both by hand and machine, meaning workers could be exposed to decaying animals.
“The practical consideration is that the material from the bins is sorted both by hand and machine, and handling dead animals is both a health hazard, as well as a psychological risk to workers in the facility,” Mr Aherne said.
“Native animals may be infested with parasites or disease, and data is limited on how the composting processes neutralise the risk,” he added.
In short, roadkill is definitely not a “Food Organic”.
FOGO: A mixed bag across Australia
While Tasmania is a bit late to the FOGO party compared to other states, millions of Aussies have been using the system for over a year.
New South Wales is aiming for a statewide mandate by 2030, with councils scrambling to get on board.
However, the rollout hasn’t been without its hiccups.
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FOGO bins have received varied responses from users.
While some residents are embracing the green bins, others have been less enthusiastic, even using their countertop bins as doorstops.
Victoria is also rolling out a four-bin system, including FOGO, across all local government areas, with a deadline of 2027 for all councils to have a FOGO service.
In WA, all local councils in the Perth and Peel regions have a three-bin system with FOGO collection, and the state government provides funding for FOGO processing.
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