A roll of compostable liners is included with your kitchen caddy and should last several months. When you need more, you can collect a replacement roll from one of our Customer Service Centres in Nunawading or Box Hill, subject to availability. A limit of two rolls per household applies each financial year.

You can also:

• Line your caddy with paper towel or newspaper.
• Place food scraps directly into the caddy and rinse it regularly.
• Purchase compostable liners from selected supermarkets, garden centres or online suppliers.

If purchasing your own liners, make sure they are:

• Bright green in colour, similar to the liners provided in your original FOGO kit.
• Certified compostable, meeting Australian Standard AS 4736 (look for the certification logos below).

If you own your property and use Council-issued garbage and recycling bins, you can order a FOGO bin.

If you rent your property, please contact your property manager, real estate agent or landlord to request a FOGO bin. To help support your request, you may wish to provide:

• An exclusive leasing and managing authority form, completed by the managing agent and submitted when requesting a new bin service from Council.
• A kerbside bin provision authority form ( PDF 161.07KB), which may be required when requesting a new garbage or FOGO bin service.

If you're unsure whether your property is eligible for a FOGO bin, call us on (03) 9262 6333.

No. If you already have a lime green-lidded FOGO bin, you do not need a new or additional bin. The service has been expanded to accept food scraps as well as garden waste.

If you do not have a FOGO bin, you may be eligible to order one online. Before ordering, you can also find out more about eligibility and the service.

No. There are currently no changes to bin collection frequencies.

Your garbage bin is collected weekly, and your food and garden organics (FOGO) bin is collected fortnightly, alternating with your recycling bin. Find your bin collection day and schedule.

• Use the kitchen caddy and compostable liners provided, and replace liners regularly.
• Store your caddy and FOGO bin out of direct sunlight where possible.
• Tie liners before placing them in your FOGO bin.
• Sprinkle a small amount of bicarbonate of soda in your caddy to help reduce odours.
• Use food-soiled paper, newspaper or stale bread to absorb excess moisture.
• Wrap meat, seafood and other smelly food scraps in paper towel or newspaper before placing them in the caddy.
• Allow hot food to cool before adding it to the caddy.
• Keep caddy and bin lids closed.
• Layer food waste with garden waste in your FOGO bin.
• Store meat and seafood scraps in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer until collection day.
• Put your FOGO bin out for collection each fortnight, even if it is not full.
• Rinse your caddy regularly and wash your bin as needed.
• Add dry materials such as leaves, grass clippings or shredded paper to help absorb moisture.

You can also help reduce food waste by planning meals, storing food correctly and using leftovers. Visit our Reducing Food Waste page for practical tips.

If odours remain a concern, you can still use the FOGO service for lower-odour items such as fruit and vegetable scraps, bread, tea bags and eggshells. Every food scrap diverted from landfill helps make a difference.

To request these items or find out more, contact Customer Service on (03) 9262 6333.

• Use the kitchen caddy and compostable liners provided, and replace liners regularly.
• Store your caddy and FOGO bin out of direct sunlight where possible.
• Tie liners before placing them in your FOGO bin.
• Sprinkle a small amount of bicarbonate of soda in your caddy to help reduce odours.
• Use food-soiled paper, newspaper or stale bread to absorb excess moisture.
• Wrap meat, seafood and other smelly food scraps in paper towel or newspaper before placing them in the caddy.
• Allow hot food to cool before adding it to the caddy.
• Keep caddy and bin lids closed.
• Layer food waste with garden waste in your FOGO bin.
• Store meat and seafood scraps in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer until collection day.
• Put your FOGO bin out for collection each fortnight, even if it is not full.
• Rinse your caddy regularly and wash your bin as needed.
• Add dry materials such as leaves, grass clippings or shredded paper to help absorb moisture.

You can also help reduce food waste by planning meals, storing food correctly and using leftovers. Visit our Reducing Food Waste page for practical tips.

To open a liner:

1. Tear a liner from the roll.
2. Unfold it completely so it lies flat.
3. Rub the top edge of the liner gently between your thumb and forefinger.
4. The opening will separate, allowing you to fit the liner into your kitchen caddy.

If you're having trouble opening the liners, please watch the video below for a demonstration.

Yes. Fruit and vegetables infested with fruit fly or citrus gall wasp can be placed in your FOGO bin.

The material is processed at Bio Gro's composting facility, where it is shredded and composted at high temperatures. During the composting process, temperatures reach levels that destroy pests, pathogens and weed seeds.

The composting process takes several weeks to complete, ensuring fruit fly larvae, citrus gall wasps and other pests do not survive.

If you suspect your plants are affected by a significant pest or disease outbreak and are unsure how to dispose of the material, contact Agriculture Victoria for advice.

Maggots can sometimes appear in FOGO bins, particularly during warmer weather. They are the larvae of flies, which are attracted to food scraps such as meat, bones and other protein-rich foods.

While maggots can be unpleasant, they are not harmful and are a normal part of the breakdown of organic material.

To help prevent flies and maggots:

• Drain excess liquid from food scraps before placing them in your caddy or bin.
• Wrap meat, bones and seafood scraps in newspaper or paper towel before adding them to your FOGO bin.
• Store meat and seafood scraps in the fridge or freezer and place them in your FOGO bin the night before collection.
• Layer food scraps with garden waste, newspaper or other paper products.
• Keep the lid of your caddy and FOGO bin closed.
• Store your FOGO bin in a shaded, well-ventilated area where possible.
• Place newspaper, paper towel or cardboard in the bottom of your bin to absorb moisture.
• Clean your caddy and FOGO bin regularly using warm water and mild soap.
• Sprinkle a small amount of bicarbonate of soda in your bin to help reduce odours.

How do I get rid of maggots?

If maggots appear in your FOGO bin, you can:

• Sprinkle salt or vinegar over them.
• Spray the inside of the bin with vinegar.
• Empty your bin on collection day and wash it with warm water and mild soap.
• Leave the bin lid closed between collections to discourage flies from entering.

Regular cleaning and reducing food odours will help prevent maggots from returning.