Inner West expanding food recycling to schools and childcare centres

9 December 2024

Media release
Inner West Deputy Mayor Mat Howard

The Inner West is expanding food recycling to childcare centres and schools across the community.

This expansion follows the successful roll out of food recycling to every Inner West household over the past 12 months. In its first year, Inner West Council collected 17,546 tonnes of FOGO in the first year of operation, far above what was anticipated. That’s the equivalent of 36,848 tonnes of CO2. 

The new service for schools and early learning centres follows a survey conducted by Council that showed strong support from educators, students and parents who want food recycling implemented to help with education about sustainability.

Council will now offer two FOGO green bins to each school and childcare centre to allow for a weekly collection as part of the weekly residential collection.

Inner West Deputy Mayor Mat Howard said, "We know a lot of food waste in our schools ends up in landfill, and this will go a long way to diverting more food scraps from landfill in the Inner West. 

"When it comes to managing our waste better, kids and young people are often our teachers. We know good waste practices start at both home and school.

"I'm proud Inner West Council is continuing to show environmental leadership by supporting schools and early learning centres to recycle food scraps.

"Expanding FOGO to schools and early learning centres will ensure new generations of young people learn the benefits of FOGO and normalises the good work of diverting food scraps from landfill. 

"It will continue the extraordinary work our community is doing to divert avoidable waste and tackle climate change."

Since the introduction of the service, Inner West residents have diverted 18,898 tonnes of organic waste from landfill, saving 39,682 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is equivalent to taking 22,386 cars off the road for a year.

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For media enquiries please contact Jonny Browne, Jonny.Browne@innerwest.nsw.gov.au