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In short:
A Wyndham resident is being charged for a green waste bin not yet delivered, raising questions over Council’s rollout timeline. FOGO bins won’t arrive until February 2026, but the fee has already been applied.
What Residents Are Saying
A Wyndham resident has questioned why she is being charged for a green waste bin service months before receiving access to it.
“I don’t have a green bin, yet I’m being charged for one on my rates,” said Shirley, a local resident who contacted Wyndham City Council after noticing a price increase on her 2025–26 rates notice.
Shirley said she was advised that a green-lid Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin is now compulsory. However, she was told the bins would not be delivered until February 2026 due to supply issues.
In response to questions from Wyndham TV, Wyndham City confirmed the service is part of a Victorian Government directive and that the rollout is proceeding according to the Council’s planned schedule.
“This transition for all households to receive a green-lid FOGO bin is a Victorian Government requirement and Wyndham City’s roll out is proceeding to Council’s planned schedule for delivery during February – March 2026,” a Council spokesperson said.
According to Council, the universal FOGO service is intended to divert food and garden waste from landfill, with organic material to be processed into mulch and soil conditioner. The cost of landfill disposal is approximately double that of FOGO processing.
Council noted that as Wyndham’s population continues to grow, so too does the volume of landfill being generated. The FOGO program is designed to reduce pressure on landfill sites by repurposing organic material that would otherwise go to waste.
Council’s response confirms that residents are already being charged for the service, with this year’s Waste Management Charge including the cost of the new bin, a kitchen caddy, and a sample pack of liners, as well as the future collection and processing of FOGO waste. The net increase in the charge is $69.40, which also includes the Victorian Government’s increase to the landfill levy.
While Council outlined what the charge covers, it did not explain why residents are being billed before the bins are delivered, nor whether any rebate or credit would be offered for the months the service is not accessible. The number of affected households also remains unclear.
Council confirmed that from 1 October 2025, it will place a temporary hold on new opt-in FOGO customers to allow for the universal rollout. New properties will receive the FOGO bin as part of their standard allocation.
Residents who had previously opted out of the green bin service will now be automatically included and charged.
