From 7 September, the City implemented a token system and provided residents with three packs of compostable bin liners for their FOGO kitchen caddy, per year.
Find out where to collect your packs, how to purchase additional supplies and alternatives to liners below.
Compostable Kitchen Caddy Liners Token System
We have introduced a token system to ensure we can maintain supply and distribution of liners to all our residents in an equitable, sustainable and cost-effective manner, as we have a finite supply.
Each financial year, households will receive three tokens, which can be swapped for three packs of compostable bin liners (75 per pack). Tokens are only valid for that year and are distributed with the annual waste calendar, which is generally distributed in July each year.
Three packs per year, which is equal to 225 liners (or 3-4 liners per week) should be sufficient for most households as data from our FOGO trial and subsequent roll-out found two packs lasts most households a year when used correctly and only for their intended purpose. Two packs a year equates to three liners per week, which is the ideal usage and what we based our projections on for the full FOGO roll-out in 2019.
We are providing an extra pack so residents will have more than a year’s supply of liners, based on the ideal usage. As we are providing an extra pack, any additional liners will need to be purchased by residents. You can find out where to purchase liners below.
As we have a finite supply of bin liners each year, we will not be able to replace your tokens if you lose them. If you have lost your tokens, you can either:
- Use newspaper to line the inside of the kitchen caddy instead of a liner
- Place food scraps straight into the caddy or FOGO bin without a liner
- Create an origami liner out of newspaper
- Purchase compostable liners from your supermarket, hardware store or online.
We will continue to assist and educate residents on the correct use of compostable liners as they are an important aspect of a successful organics collection and compost production process.
Compostable Kitchen Caddy Liners Collection Points
We encourage you to only collect one pack of liners at a time, as they have a limited shelf life and cannot be stored for long periods.
You can collect your liner packs from the 7 September, from the following locations. You will need to bring a token to redeem a pack:
- City of Melville Civic Centre, 10 Almondbury Road, Booragoon
- AH Bracks Library, corner Stock Road and Canning Highway, Melville
- Civic Square Library, Almondbury Road (entry off Davy Street), Booragoon
- Willagee Library, corner Winnacott and Archibald Street, Willagee
- Bull Creek Library, 24 Leichhardt Street, Bull Creek
- Blue Gum Community Centre, 33 Moolyeen Road, Brentwood
- City of Melville Operations Centre, 13 Bramanti Road, Murdoch
Click on the links above to find out opening hours of each facility.
Please note: There are no liners available at the Canning Bridge Library. The closest collection point to this location is the City of Melville Civic Centre or Civic Square Library.
Alternative Purchasing Options for Compostable Kitchen Caddy Liners
If you require more than three packs of liners per year, you can purchase extra liners from Woolworths, Coles, FoodWorks or Bunnings, or order them online from Compost-a-Pak, Cardia Bioproducts or Biobag World.
If you are purchasing additional liners, always remember to purchase compostable liners, not biodegradable liners. Biodegradable liners break down into micro plastics which are harmful to all living things, pollute the environment and contaminate the FOGO compost.
To make sure you get the right ones, look for these two logos below and for the certified Australian Standard numbers AS4736 and AS5810.
Alternative Options to Using FOGO Kitchen Caddy Liners
You do not have to use liners in your FOGO kitchen caddy. You can place food scraps straight into your kitchen caddy or FOGO bin or wrap your food scraps with newspaper.
Alternatively, you can create your own origami liner out of newspaper. This is a great project for kids and a fantastic way to repurpose any newspapers you have lying around.
Why have you introduced a token system? We have introduced a token system to ensure we can maintain supply and distribution of liners to all our residents in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, as we have a finite supply.
We arrived at three packs per household by analysing liner use data from the FOGO trial and subsequent roll-out.
This data showed that most households who used the liners correctly and only for their purpose, used two packs of liners per year. Two packs a year equals three liners per week, which is the ideal usage and what we based our projections on for the full FOGO roll-out.
We are providing an extra pack so residents will have more than a year’s supply of liners, based on the ideal usage.
To claim your liners, tear off a token and take it to one of the following locations during opening hours:
- City of Melville Civic Centre, 10 Almondbury Road, Booragoon
- AH Bracks Library, corner Stock Road and Canning Highway, Melville
- Civic Square Library, Almondbury Road (entry off Davy Street), Booragoon
- Willagee Library, corner Winnacott and Archibald Street, Willagee
- Bull Creek Library, 24 Leichhardt Street, Bull Creek
- Blue Gum Community Centre, 33 Moolyeen Road
- City of Melville Operations Centre, 13 Bramanti Road, Murdoch
If you require more than three packs of liners per year, you will need to purchase your own additional liners.
Waste calendars started arriving in letterboxes from 7 September 2020.
If you did not receive your calendar by 18 September, contact Customer Relations via email on melinfo@melville.wa.gov.au or phone 9364 0666 | 1300 635 845.
As we have a finite supply of bin liners allocated to each property each year, we will not be able to replace your tokens if you lose them. This is to make sure we distribute liners equally, to all our residents in the most sustainable and cost effective manner.
If you have lost your tokens, you can either:
- Use newspaper to line the inside of the kitchen caddy instead of a liner
- Place food scraps straight into the caddy or FOGO bin without a liner
- Create an origami liner out of newspaper
- Purchase compostable liners from your supermarket, hardware store or online.
No. We can only supply you with liners if you can provide a token.
We do not recommend picking up more than one pack at a time as they have a limited shelf life and cannot be stored for long periods. If your liners degrade in storage, we are unable to provide you with replacements, so we suggest only collecting a pack when you actually need them.
We went out for tender for the supply of compostable liners and the successful supplier provides their liners in packs and not rolls. There is no difference in quality but there is a cost saving for the City, which means a better deal for ratepayers.
Each pack of 75 liners costs the City $5.50 which includes the staff time and resources to distribute from our facilities.
There are currently 40,000 households in the City with the FOGO system so it costs the City $660,000 to supply households with three packs of liners per year.
If we were to increase the number supplied per household by an extra pack, it would cost the City and additional $220,000 per year. These costs would have to be borne by ratepayers
No. You do not have to use liners in your FOGO kitchen caddy. You can place food scraps straight into your kitchen caddy or FOGO bin or wrap your food scraps with newspaper.
Alternatively, you can create your own origami liner out of newspaper. This is a great project for kids and a fantastic way to repurpose any newspapers you have lying around.
You can purchase extra liners from Woolworths, Coles, FoodWorks or Bunnings, or order them online from Compost-a-Pak, Cardia Bioproducts or Biobag World.
Remember to always use compostable liners, not biodegradable and never use a plastic bag. Compostable liners have these logos and the certified Australian Composting Standard numbers AS4736 and AS5810 on them.
Always use compostable liners, not biodegradable, and remember to never use a plastic bag. Compostable liners have these logos and the certified Australian Composting Standard numbers: AS4736 & AS5810.
A liner should last three to four days in your FOGO kitchen caddy.
Moisture can make them compost faster so place newspaper or used paper towel at the bottom of your compostable liner if your food scraps are wet. Store your compostable liners in a cool and dry spot away from heat and sunlight.
No. The compostable liners are designed for your kitchen caddy and for food scraps only. Pet poo and kitty litter can go straight into your FOGO bin or you can buy compostable pet poo bags from:
- Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings and Petbarn or check your local pet store
- Order online from Compost-A-Pak, Cardia Bioproducts or Biobag World as examples
- You can set up a pet poo composter at home such as the EnsoPet or Bokashi system
Unfortunately this is not an option. Australia Post are unable to handle the volume due to a high number of bulk items and there is an unexpected delays to postage and delivery services due to an increase in package deliveries.