Bin tagging

Between May and July 2024 our Waste Busters team lifted the lid on yellow and green lidded bins to visually inspect the contents. The program thanked and congratulated the growing number of residents who are doing a great job, and supported those who needed a helping hand by giving feedback on items that don't belong on postcards placed in letterboxes.

Waste Buster inspecting green FOGO bin

Over 2,600 FOGO bins and 2,900 recycling bins were looked at across Inner West houses. The results found that:

A green-lidded kerbside bin with various food scraps on their way in.

Almost
3 out of 4
households are using their FOGO bin to recycle food scraps.

A green-lidded kerbside bin with various food scraps on their way in.

More than
90%
of households are using their FOGO bin correctly.

A green-lidded kerbside bin with various food scraps on their way in.

More than
70%
of households are using their recycling bin correctly.

 

FOGO

Although most people were getting it right, there were a few common mistakes. These are the top three items found in FOGO bins that should not be there. Do you have any of these items in your FOGO bin?

Food in a plastic bags inside the universal 'no' (red circle and cross) symbol

Food in plastic bags

Two soft plastic bags inside the universal 'no' (red circle and cross) symbol

Soft plastic and loose plastic bags

A paper towel roll inside the universal 'no' (red circle and cross) symbol

Tissues and paper towels

Recycling 

Although most people were recycling right, there were a few common mistakes. These are the top three items found in recycling bins that should not be there. Do you have any of these items in your recycling bin?

Two soft plastic bags inside the universal 'no' (red circle and cross) symbol

Plastic bags and soft plastic

A paper towel roll inside the universal 'no' (red circle and cross) symbol

Tissues and paper towels

A takeaway coffee cup inside the universal 'no' (red circle and cross) symbol

Takeaway coffee cups

Thank you 

You may notice a congratulatory sticker on your FOGO or recycling bin. Once the Waste Busters completed the bin tagging program and looked at the data, we were able to identify which streets had done a great job. These streets received stickers on their bins and some feedback in the mailbox. Thanks for doing a great job!

Side-on view of green lid and yellow lid bins with congratulatory stickers on them side

 

What do I do if I am not sure which bin an item goes in?

The Waste Busters would love to hear from you! Email wastebusters@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or call 9392 5303 and ask to speak to a Waste Buster. We can answer any questions you have about waste, recycling, FOGO or the bin tagging program. We also offer tailored waste consultations at your home or over the phone.

Rate this page

  • Rate as The content was useful85.71% The content was useful votes
  • Rate as The content was not useful14.29% The content was not useful votes

Thanks for your feedback. We will use this data to improve the content of this page.

Page last updated: 07 Jan 2025