Weekly FOGO Trial Community Engagement Outcomes

A feedback survey was sent to all properties in the trial area in September 2024.

The survey was conducted to understand;

• The general experience of those on the Weekly FOGO kerbside collection
• The effectiveness of the communication materials and approach
• Concerns, challenges and benefits of the Weekly FOGO service
• Why participants chose to take up trial options
• Any changes in the kerbside waste volume
• The acceptance of continuing the Weekly FOGO service

Response was received from 12% of the trial area.

• Most respondents were:
  • Residents, not businesses (98%)
  • Aged between 25 and 74 years (80%)
  • From households with 4 persons or less (93%)
  • From households that did not have anyone who required nappies (83%).
• Business response to the consultation was limited with the three responses representing 4% of all business properties in the trial area.

Results of the feedback survey found:

• Experience with the Weekly FOGO Trial service overall was positive (81%). Comments that explained the benefits of the service included; the reduced smell from the FOGO bin as it was collected weekly, weekly removal of garden waste and reduced waste sent to landfill. Comments from those who were dissatisfied with the trial service (19%) included; that the landfill bins were too full after a fortnight, concerns with smell and pests.
• A significant percentage of those still participating in the trial saw a change in the waste volume and compilation of the kerbside bins. They reported more food waste in the green FOGO bin (44%), less material in the landfill bin (32%) and no change in garden waste in the FOGO bin (71%). Respondents who had opted out of the trial did not see any change in the amount of material in their kerbside bins.
• Respondents reported that the main items that were disposed in the landfill bin were items generally referred to as “not suitable for the green or yellow bin” or “garbage/rubbish” (53%). Specific items that were identified include soft plastics (31%) and personal hygiene products (19%).
• A majority of respondents (55%) support the continuation of the weekly green FOGO bin collection service at the end of the trial period. Less than a quarter of the respondents (22%) are against continuing the weekly FOGO collection service past the trial period. While others were ambivalent (15%) and unsure (4%).
• All three businesses who responded to the survey did not support the continuation of the Weekly FOGO Service at the end of the trial expressing that the service was of no benefit to their business due to the type of waste that was generated through the business.

The full report is available in the Trial documents area of this webpage.