Inner West FOGO Food Recycling Monthly Update - Council Agenda 21 Nov 2023

 Item No:              C1123(1) Item 13

Subject:Inner West FOGO Food Recycling Monthly Update         

Prepared By:      Helen Bradley - Manager Resource Recovery Planning 

Authorised By:  Peter Gainsford - General Manager

RECOMMENDATION

That Council receive and note the report.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

1: An ecologically sustainable Inner West


 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

This report provides the monthly update to Council on the new FOGO Food Recycling service rolled out to houses across the Inner West, commencing 9 October 2023.

 

BACKGROUND

 

Council requested monthly updates for the first year of the new service.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Council commenced the FOGO food recycling service on 9 October 2023 and as of 10 November had collected over 1500 Tonnes of FOGO. Whilst the environmental benefits of the new service are self-evident and everyone in our community is able to contribute to a more sustainable future by participating in the service, there are challenges in the roll out of any new service.  Experience from other councils suggest that it can take up to six months to embed a new service.   

 

Inner West Council has 50,600 single dwellings (houses) and 31,800 multi-units and picks up approximately 178,000 bins per week across all waste streams. The implementation has required a realignment of our waste calendar to better align the new service, including the accommodation of the multi-unit dwellings being serviced weekly (garbage and FOO) through the entire area.  This requires adjustment for not only our waste collection staff and contractors but also residents. Industry standard for missed bins is 0.5% of total services which for Inner West is 700 missed services per week.  In the first week of November Council had 876 missed bin requests.    

 

We always anticipated that a change of this magnitude would be a challenge and so we put several supports in place prior to the rollout to help our residents during the transition.  

Additional staff were added to Council’s call centre and staff from across the organisation have assisted in taking waste call during peak times. The number of phone calls have reduced by more than half since we commenced the service and continue to reduce each week. A number of Council teams have been focussing on the management of customer requests to help with provide a higher level of customer service.  

 

Council has been promoting access to the online waste calendar as the single source of truth for residents confirming their bin collection details, with the web page receiving in excess of 170,000 visits. This is now reflected in the number of residents presenting their red or yellow bin on the wrong week for collection which was reduced to 10 – 15%.  

 

Staff have been actively attending customer service stalls and events to ensure a presence in the community, answering questions and providing advice around FOGO which has been well received by the community.

  

Social media has been the greatest difficulty with negative comments and misinformation. This was addressed by Inner West Council joining community groups/discussions to comment on FOGO.  

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions  

 

Other than missed bins which were discussed above most issues being raised at the present time are listed below; 

1.   Upsizing Red Lid Garbage bins  

2.   Booked Overflow Red Lid Garbage Bin collection 

3.   Supply of starter kits and liners 

4.   Rebate for Reusable Nappies and sanitary items 

5.   Nappy drop off 

6.   Community Education via waste busters   

 

 

1.   Upsizing Red Lid Garbage Bins.  

 

To help assist residents who are struggling with a fortnightly collection of the 120-litre red lidded bin, Council is offering a 240-litre bin. The plan was to allow residents a month to adapt to the new service before offering the larger bin. Council has had 2,189 requests for a 240-litre red lidded bin out of the 50,600 households and has so far delivered 789 and it is envisaged that the current requests will be delivered in the next three weeks. In the meantime, if residents require an additional support they can book an extra collection which has been done through the Optimo service. 

 

2.   Booked Overflow Red Lid Garbage Bin Collection  

 

Optimo, Council’s current booking system for clean-up bookings, has been active since 9 October 2023 to support residents that would like to book the alternate week collection. Council clean-up and extra red-lid bin collection - Inner West Council (nsw.gov.au) 

 

The booked system gives residents opportunity to adapt waste sorting behaviour before committing to an upsizing of bin. Cumulative bookings:

  

3.   Supply of starter kits and liners 

Home delivery of caddies and liners, with supply also made available at customer service stalls, libraries and service centres. Council can deliver starter kits to households who may not have received them.  

4.   Rebate for Reusable Nappies 

$30,000 was allocated by council resolution for the nappy and sanitary rebate which opened on 9 October to enable households to try subsidised reusable nappies or sanitary products and reduce the amount of garbage in their red lid bin. Residents buy the items of their choice and submit their simple application and their receipt to qualify for the rebate (up to $150 for reusable nappies and $100 for sanitary products).  

Inner West Council's Rebately | Reusable Cloth Nappies 


At 6 November 2023, seventy-seven rebates had been claimed ($4,554 of $30,000 available); 

Reusable cloth nappies – 20 claims to the value of $1,441.39 

Reusable sanitary products – 57 claims to the value of $3,112.92 

5.   Nappy Drop Off 

Excess nappies can be dropped off at the following locations: 

Community Recycling Centre – 50-54 Moore Street, Leichhardt. Open Saturday and Sunday 7:45am to 11.30am and 1pm to 3:45pm. 

Community Recycling Centre – 15-17 Unwin's Bridge Road, St Peters (entry via Bolton Street). Open Saturday and Sunday 8am – 1pm.  

Inner West Sustainability Hub – 7 Prospect Road, Summer Hill. Open Weekdays 9am-5pm 

Community recycling centres - Inner West Council (nsw.gov.au) 

Inner West Sustainability Hub - Inner West Council (nsw.gov.au) 

6.   Waste Busters 

 Waste Busters - Inner West Council (nsw.gov.au) 

The Waste Busters and resource recovery officers are attending community events and stalls. The focus has been on reactive education to date, when the enquiries settle waste busters will proactively be contacting households with contaminated or overflowing red lid garbage bins.

One waste audit has been completed as another was cancelled by the resident as they found they adjusted to FOGO better than expected and four more are in progress. 

 

FOGO weekday customer service stalls 9.30am to 5.30pm: 

10,11, 12, 13 Oct – Ashfield Aquatic 

17,18,19, 20 Oct – Marrickville Library 

23 Oct - Loyalty Square, Balmain 

24, 25 Oct - Marketplace Leichhardt 

26, 27 Oct – Loyalty Square, Balmain 

31 Oct – Haberfield Library 

1 Nov – Summer Hill Piazza 

3 Nov – Ashfield Aquatic  

 

FOGO Weekend customer service stalls (9:30-1:30): 

9 Sept – Tempe Recreation Reserve 

16 Sept – Dulwich Hill Library 

17 Sept – Dulwich Hill Festival  

23 Sept – Ashfield Town Hall 

30 Sept – Enmore Park 

7 Oct – Pioneer Memorial Park, Leichhardt 

14 Oct – Yeo Park, Ashfield 

15 Oct – Marrickville Festival 

21 Oct – Steel Park, Marrickville 

28 Oct – Tillman Park, Sydenham (Early Learning event) 

28 Oct – Elkington Park, Balmain 

29 Oct – Italian Festa, Norton Street, Leichhardt 

4 Nov – Summer Hill Piazza 

 

 

Communications and Engagement 

 

FOGO Community Champions 

Cornersmith Workshops and social media commenced mid-October and will be completed by mid-December 2023. 

 

Facebook and Instagram – by 6 November 3 reels have been posted by Cornersmith using FOGO Fridge Check and featuring the kitchen benchtop bin and compostable liners. These posts received up to 888 likes and have been shared by Inner West. 

 

 

Cornersmith workshops 

Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill – Thursday 26 October (35 attendees) 

Balmain Town Hall – Sat 4 November cancelled due to presenter illness (currently being rescheduled as 28 had booked)  

Marrickville Pavilion – Sat 2 December (33 booked) 

 

 

Workshop Summer Hill Thursday 26 October (35 attendees) 

Adventure Kids Entertainment have undertaken FOGO performances across the Inner West Primary schools and have booked in schools, inner West Early learning centres and libraries through to March 2024. Feedback has been positive with children loving the interactive approach and FOGO songs. 

Primary Schools 

Marrickville Public – 17 October (38 children) 

Marrickville West Public – 17 October (65 children) 

Wilkins Public – 19 October (45 students) 

Birchgrove Public – 24 October (45 students) 

Balmain Public – 26 October (40 students) 

Dulwich Hill – 30 October 

Leichhardt Public – 3 November 

Ashfield Public – 21 November 

 

Inner West Early Learning Centres; 

Annandale – 20 October (20 children) 

Cavendish Street – 24 October (40 children) 

Balmain-Rozelle – 25 October 

Deborah Little – 25 October (52 children) 

Leichhardt – 26 October 

Addison Road – 7 October (45 students) 

Leichhardt Park – 1 November 

Enmore – 10 November 

 

Inner West Libraries 

Haberfield - 5 December 

Marrickville - 6 December 

Leichhardt -10 January 

St Peters – 11 January 

Ashfield – 15 January 

Dulwich Hill – 13 February 

Balmain – 14 Februar

Engaging a high-profile individual to help promote FOGO 

Craig Reuscassel has shared reels on social media and supported the FOGO Hero campaign. FOGO (Food organics garden organics) - Inner West Council (nsw.gov.au)  

Advertising on Social Media

Communications and Engagement 

Social media has been active with organic posts and boosted ads achieving great reach and engagement. As the campaign has continued there has been a marked downward trend in negative comments. 

Social media has been active with organic posts and boosted ads achieving great reach and engagement. As the campaign has continued there has been a marked downward trend in negative comments. 

 

Ads 

Reach 

Impressions 

 Engagement

 Engagement Percentage

2/11/2023 

 

 

 

 

 

1/09/2023 

FB 

FB Ads – pre-launch 

234,349 

 

 

1/09/2023 

FB 

FB Ads – post-launch 

125,632 

 

 

8/09/2023 

FB 

FB video boost 

13,817 

4,756 

34.42% 

11/09/2023 

Insta 

Introducing FOGO 

5,318 

213 

4.01% 

12/09/2023 

FB 

Longform post 

1,626 

320 

19.68% 

13/09/2023 

FB 

FOGO is coming (red tile) 

5,303 

993 

18.73% 

13/09/2023 

Insta 

FOGO is coming (red tile) 

4,578 

174 

3.80% 

14/09/2023 

Insta 

FOGO red tile (story) 

963 

2 

0.21% 

16/09/2023 

FB 

Did you hear the news 

738 

24 

3.25% 

19/09/2023 

FB 

Be a FOGO Hero (orange tile) 

1,682 

205 

12.19% 

21/09/2023 

FB 

Every hero needs a sidekick (blue tile) 

7,679 

1,686 

3.44% 

21/09/2023 

Insta 

Every hero needs a sidekick (blue tile) 

5,227 

128 

2.45% 

23/09/2023 

Insta 

Did you hear the news (ep 1) 

2,811 

70 

2.49% 

27/09/2023 

FB 

There is a new home for your food scraps (ep 2) 

640 

9 

1.41% 

27/09/2023 

Insta 

There is a new home for your food scraps (ep 2) 

1,925 

36 

1.87% 

29/09/2023 

 

Google Ad 

68,400 

11,900 

17.40% 

2/10/2023 

FB 

What to FOGO? 

3,815 

141 

3.70% 

2/10/2023 

Insta 

What to FOGO? 

2,497 

43 

1.72% 

3/10/2023 

FB 

With the expansion of food recycling 

58,523 

14,287 

24.41% 

3/10/2023 

Insta 

With the expansion of food recycling 

9,161 

762 

8.32% 

5/10/2023 

FB 

Wondering what goes in your different coloured bin? 

2,511 

465 

18.52% 

8/10/2023 

FB 

EPA FOGO video 

1,503 

95 

6.32% 

8/10/2023 

Insta 

EPA FOGO video 

3,766 

129 

3.43% 

9/10/2023 

FB 

It's official - Our new FOGO service starts today (check your calendar) 

36,188 

9,351 

25.84% 

9/10/2023 

Insta 

It's official - Our new FOGO service starts today 

7,681 

293 

3.81% 

11/10/2023 

FB 

Discover eco-friendly kitchen hacks 

664 

6 

0.90% 

11/10/2023 

FB 

Sustainable kitchens (event) 

739 

 

100.00% 

11/10/2023 

Insta 

Craig Reucassel (story) 

840 

13 

1.55% 

11/10/2023 

FB 

FOGO food recycling is 

1,951 

133 

6.82% 

11/10/2023 

Insta 

FOGO food recycling is 

5,413 

125 

2.31% 

12/10/2023 

FB 

Craig Reucassel ad 

13,538 

1,680 

12.41% 

13/10/2023 

FB 

Your FOGO starter pack is on its way! 

3,482 

627 

18.01% 

13/10/2023 

Insta 

Your FOGO starter pack is on its way! 

5,518 

145 

2.63% 

16/10/2023 

FB 

The FOGO waste revolution 

1,136 

183 

16.11% 

16/10/2023 

Insta 

The FOGO waste revolution 

2,559 

49 

1.91% 

19/10/2023 

FB 

What goes where in FOGO? 

6,952 

896 

12.89% 

19/10/2023 

Insta 

Discover ecofriendly kitchens 

2,130 

105 

4.93% 

20/10/2023 

FB 

GOOD NEWS Tea bags are now accepted 

1,933 

285 

14.74% 

20/10/2023 

Insta 

GOOD NEWS Tea bags are now accepted 

6,476 

231 

3.57% 

24/10/2023 

FB 

Remember, when using your FOGO bin remove 

2,155 

295 

13.69% 

24/10/2023 

Insta 

Remember, when using your FOGO bin remove 

2,670 

59 

2.21% 

27/10/2023 

Insta 

Introducing FOGO Friday Fridge Check 

5,856 

198 

3.38% 

27/10/2023 

FB 

Introducing FOGO Friday Fridge Check 

2,090 

334 

15.98% 

28/10/2023 

Insta 

FOGO doesn't have to be spooky story 

411 

 

0.00% 

28/10/2023 

Insta 

FOGO doesn't have to be spooky 

41 

6 

14.63% 

28/10/2023 

FB 

FOGO doesn't have to be spooky 

3,054 

150 

4.91% 

29/10/2023 

Insta 

FOGO has been in the inner west for almost 3 weeks 

9,121 

309 

3.39% 

29/10/2023 

FB 

FOGO has been in the inner west for almost 3 weeks 

846 

116 

13.71% 

31/10/2023 

Insta 

The new combined food organics 

1,232 

31 

2.52% 

31/10/2023 

FB 

The new combined food organics 

631 

60 

9.51% 

2/11/2023 

FB 

Darcy red bin video 

5,645 

219 

3.88% 

2/11/2023 

FB 

Darcy red bin video 

227 

74 

32.60% 

 

 

 

 

307,853 

51,029 

10.91% 

 

 

TOTAL REACH (including ads) 

696,988 

51,029 

 

 Compostable liner supply and delivery  

Council has compostable liners (bags) available at Inner West Customer Service Centres and libraries. The process needs to be consistent for residents in apartments and houses. 

The current on-demand order for apartments is resource intensive and inefficient and will need to be reconsidered as part of our long-term approach with houses.  

Other metro councils offer ongoing bag supply: 

· Randwick Council currently offers 6 monthly delivery of bags and encourages residents to buy their own, use paper or go bag free in the interim Order new FOGO caddy liners - Randwick City Council (nsw.gov.au) 

·  Penrith offers quarterly delivery (opt-in) and promotes pick up from council offices and libraries. FOGO FAQ - Penrith City Council (nsw.gov.au) 

In a 2021 publication of industry news, Waste Management, a study of the use of compostable liners by MRA Consulting found that councils which supplied liners had on average 30 per cent more FOGO capture than those without. While the study noted that those councils not supplying liners did so to save costs, modelling showed that the avoided landfill gate fees for the additional food waste captured because liners were provided, resulted in savings well exceeding the cost of providing liners.  

It is proposed to provide the delivery of compostable bag liners to the 50,600 houses single dwellings by the end of the year and the supply of these bags is estimated at $165,000 and the delivery of the bags will be undertaken by Council's waste staff.  

In future a report will be presented to Council that considers a number of delivery models like the Penrith or Randwick examples or offering a pick-up service as costs could be reduced or avoided by offering free collection from the three Customer service centres, eight libraries and the Inner West Sustainability Hub. They could also be provided from the mobile Customer service stalls.  

There must be a strong focus on take only one pack to discourage the stockpiling of bags due to the 12-month shelf life of bags and them beginning to compost and deteriorate over time, particularly if stored in damp areas or exposed to sunlight. 

 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Fully funded via Domestic Waste Budget for ongoing operational costs and implementation funded via the NSW EPA (Environment Protection Authority) Grant[$953,425] and any additional costs to the above budget for example the additional compostable liners will be funded from the Domestic Waste Reserve.

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.

 Council Agenda 21 Nov 2023 https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2023/11/C_21112023_AGN_4014_AT_WEB.htm 

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