Michael Annear, Director Infrastructure and Development, Mount Alexander Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire Council is considering important changes to our waste services. I want to outline why these changes are being explored, what the proposal looks like and what it could mean for our community.
The starting point is clear: our current system is not keeping up with where we need to be. Too much organic waste is going to landfill, including valuable materials that could be reused. At the same time, community expectations are changing. Many residents have told us they want better ways to manage food and garden waste more responsibly.
There is also a clear statewide push in this direction. Victorian Government policy requires councils to move to a four-stream system – separating general waste, mixed recycling, glass and food and garden organics. The question for council is how to implement this in a way that reflects the needs and expectations of our community.
We are considering introducing two new services in 2027: a weekly Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection and a network of local drop-off points for glass. At the same time, general waste would move to a fortnightly collection, with mixed recycling also collected fortnightly.
FOGO is a key part of this. It allows households to put food scraps, garden clippings and other compostable materials into a dedicated bin. Instead of going to landfill, this material would be processed locally into compost that can be used in parks, gardens and potentially in local agriculture. We estimate this could divert around 900 tonnes of waste from landfill each year and reduce emissions by over 1,000 tonnes.
We know changes like this can feel like a big shift. Moving to fortnightly red bin collection, in particular, will be an adjustment for some households. But experience from other councils shows that once food waste is removed from general rubbish, the amount going into the red bin drops significantly.
We’re also thinking carefully about cost. If these changes go ahead, introducing FOGO and glass together is expected to save around $400,000 annually, compared to delaying. That’s largely because landfill costs are rising, along with fuel, labour and equipment expenses.
It’s also important to say that this proposal won’t replace home or community composting. If you’re already managing your food and garden waste successfully, you’ll be able to apply to opt out of the FOGO service. We’ll also continue to support community-led initiatives like YIMBY.
No final decision has been made. This is about sharing information early, being transparent about the challenges and giving people the chance to ask questions.
I encourage anyone interested to learn more, submit questions and attend our upcoming information session.
You can find more information at mountalexander.vic.gov.au/proposed-waste-changes.