Council's four-month Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside collection pilot program begins in March 2018.
This will see organic material from 1682 Warrnambool households collected and turned into compost rather than going into landfill.
The households involved in the pilot program will receive bins, kitchen caddies and compostable bin liners this month.
Information gathered throughout the pilot will help inform a decision on the possible introduction of a FOGO kerbside collection service across the city.
Once residents have received their bins, Sustainability students from Deakin University will be knocking on doors in the pilot area offering guidance and support to enable households to get the most out of their FOGO service.
Education material has been delivered to properties, with more to follow and customer service staff have been trained to help residents with inquiries about the service.
Council believes a FOGO kerbside collection across the municipality could have significant long-term financial benefits by reducing disposal to landfill costs.
It would also bring significant environmental benefits such as reducing the waste going to landfill, recovery of valuable resources and reduction in greenhouse gases.
Most councils in Victoria offer a green waste service and the number offering a combined food and garden collection service is increasing.
Diverting FOGO from Warrnambool garbage bins has the potential to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 4,000 tonnes of CO2 e (carbon dioxide equivalent) annually.
This equates to removing 857 cars off the road every year.
During the pilot study the FOGO material will be collected by Warrnambool Green Waste and processed and composted at the Panmure Composting Facility.
During the FOGO trial Council will gather information about quantities of material collected, how residents use the service, what the impact is on garbage and recycling collection, and what aspects of the service need further development.
There is no additional cost for residents involved in the pilot.
The trial was given an allocation in the 2017-2018 Council budget.
