When filling your FOGO (Food Organics, Garden Organics) bin, it’s important to know what you can put in it. Plastic contamination in FOGO bins has become an issue recently.

While plastic can sometimes be spotted before it’s emptied into the collection truck, it may also be hidden underneath other organic matter.

This results in the whole load of FOGO being contaminated and needing to be diverted to landfill, cancelling out everyone’s good work.

Remember, if it doesn’t rot or decompose, you can’t put it in a FOGO bin. Anything that can go in your recycling bin shouldn’t be in the FOGO bin.

This means NO to:

• Plastics (not even biodegradable plastic bags)
• Nappies
• Fabric (e.g. clothing)
• Dryer lint (it contains manmade fibres such as nylon, polyester etc)
• Vacuum cleaner bag contents (will contain inorganic residue)
• Hard waste or broken household items, like furniture or plates and cups
• Plastic takeaway containers
• Hazardous or contaminated waste, like asbestos
• Thick branches

Please visit www.brighton.tas.gov.au/property/fogo/ for more information.