What can I put in my bin?

If you can eat it or it is part of something that can grow, it is FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics). If you're not sure, you can check the list below.

What can I put in my FOGO bin?

• Council-supplied compostable kitchen caddy liners meet the Australian Standards of AS4736 and AS5810 and are coloured bright green (additional liners can be requested from Council free of charge)
• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat and bones (raw and cooked)
• Eggs and dairy
• Seafood and soft seafood shells including fish, prawns and lobster
• Bread, pasta, rice, and cereal
• Nuts, grains, and seeds
• Desserts, pastries, and cakes
• Loose tea leaves and coffee grounds
• Plate scrapings and leftovers
• Newspaper (when used to line caddy)
• Tissues and paper towel
• Paper napkins
• Wooden items - Toothpicks, skewers, icy pole sticks, chopsticks and coffee stirrers and cutlery
• Paper straws
• Human and pet hair
• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Garden clippings.
• Small branches and logs (up to 10cm in diameter and 40cm in length)
• Sticks and twigs
• Common weeds and flowers

What can't go in FOGO bin

• Compostable liners that don't meet both the Australian Standard AS4736 & not bright green in colour
• All food packaging including fruit stickers, elastic bands, and plastic wrap/cling wrap
• Compostable or biodegradable packaging
• Nappies and sanitary items including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable
• Animal waste and kitty litter 
• Textiles and fabric, including natural fibres
• Hard seafood shells, including oyster shells and clam shells
• Liquids including cooking oil and milk
• Teabags and coffee pods
• Treated and painted timber
• Ash, rocks, and soil
• Bricks and building materials
• Disposable baby and makeup wipes, including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable
• Plastic items and plastic bags
• Polystyrene
• Metals and wire
• Gardening items, including plant pots, gardening tools, garden hoses.
• Noxious weeds

Download the What goes into your FOGO bin flyer

Things to remember

• Please do not overload your bin or make it too heavy and ensure that the lid can be fully closed. Our trucks have a 75kg weight capacity. If your bin is too heavy or overfull, you may receive a sticker on your bin notifying you that your collection could not be completed.

• Larger households or those producing extra waste can choose to order an additional bin. Additional fees will apply.

Things to remember

• Please do not overload your bin or make it too heavy and ensure that the lid can be fully closed.

• Our trucks have a 75kg weight capacity. If your bin is too heavy or overfull, you may receive a sticker on your bin notifying you that your collection could not be completed.

• Your recycling bin will be collected fortnightly.

• Larger households or those producing extra waste that cannot be avoided e.g., nappies or medical waste, can choose to order an additional bin. Additional fees will apply.

Most small household items that can’t be placed into your recycling or FOGO bin can go into your rubbish bin.

This includes:

• Plastic packaging, food wrappers, cling wrap and other plastics that can’t go into your recycling bin
• Biodegradable and compostable bags (other than those provided by council for the FOGO collection)
• Coffee cups and lids
• Nappies, wipes and sanitary items
• Polystyrene and foam meat trays
• Window glass, drinking glasses and bowls, mirrors and pyrex
• Animal waste and kitty litter
• Plant pots, broken hoses and gardening tools
• Coat hangers, clothing and textiles that cannot be donated
• Broken toys and household items (except those operated with a battery or power cord – see information on Electronic Waste (E-waste) for info on how to dispose of these items) 

What not to put in your rubbish bin

• Food or garden waste 
• Recyclable items that can be placed into your recycling bin
• Items that have a power cord or are battery-powered
• Batteries
• Bricks, rubble, timber, renovation material or hot ashes
• Paint, pesticides, oil or solvents
• Syringes
• Liquids, acids, hazardous or chemical waste

Further information on how to dispose of hazardous waste and electronic waste can be found at https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/waste

Download the What can I put in my Rubbish bin Flyer

Things to remember

• Please do not overload your bin or make it too heavy and ensure that the lid can be fully closed.

• Our trucks have a 75kg weight capacity. If your bin is too heavy or overfull, you may receive a sticker on your bin notifying you that your collection could not be completed.

• Your rubbish bin will be collected fortnightly.

• Larger households or those producing extra waste that cannot be avoided e.g., nappies or medical waste, can choose to order an additional bin. Additional fees will apply.

Some items are not permitted in any of your household bins because they are hazardous to people and the environment, or because they can damage collection equipment.

The following items are not permitted in any of your bins:

• Batteries – should be dropped off at Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Bunnings or search for your nearest drop off location at bcycle.com.au
• E-waste – anything that is battery operated or has a power cord is banned from being put into rubbish or recycling bins. Drop off at your nearest waste transfer station (small fee for some items) or put out with your annual hard rubbish collection for special collection.
• Unwanted chemicals – drop off at a Detox Your Home event https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/circular-economy-and-recycling/at-home/hazardous-household-chemicals/dispose-of-household-chemicals-detox-your-home
• Building materials, concrete, rubble and soil – if not able to be reused, these items must be taken to your nearest waste transfer station
• Other hazardous waste – other drop off locations listed at  https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Environment/Waste/Hazardous-Waste-Disposal