Tackling the High Volume of Organic Waste in Kalamunda Landfills

A recent waste audit in Kalamunda found that a staggering 61.6% of household general waste is made up of organic materials like food scraps and garden waste. This high percentage of organic waste ending up in landfills highlights the urgent need for better waste diversion strategies.

Organic materials in landfills create environmental challenges and miss opportunities to turn waste into useful resources like compost. Here’s how Kalamunda is tackling the problem and promoting sustainable waste management across the city.

Key Solutions for Reducing Organic Waste in Landfills

The City of Kalamunda has launched a range of initiatives to handle the issue of organic waste, aiming to minimise landfill contributions, improve sustainability, and create value from organic materials. Below are the primary approaches in place.

1. Introducing the FOGO System

To better manage the waste stream, Kalamunda has implemented the Food Organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) system. This three-bin system encourages residents to separate organic waste from other household waste, making it easy to keep food scraps and garden clippings out of landfills.

With FOGO, organic materials are collected separately and processed into compost or mulch. This small change can make a big impact, with recycling rates for households using FOGO expected to rise from a low of 14% to potentially over 56%.

Not only does FOGO reduce landfill contributions, but it also supports local agriculture and gardening efforts by creating compost from waste that would otherwise go unused.

2. Encouraging Community Engagement and Education

For the FOGO program to work, the city knows that community involvement is essential. To make sure residents understand the benefits of FOGO and feel comfortable using the system, Kalamunda has introduced educational programs and resources.

The city is distributing fact sheets on ways to reduce general waste, holding workshops on how to properly use the FOGO system, and even hosting sessions on the benefits of using cloth nappies over disposable ones. These efforts help build a waste-conscious community that feels confident about making sustainable choices.

3. Receiving Support from State Initiatives

Kalamunda’s FOGO program is part of a broader state-wide strategy supported by the Western Australian government. To help cities and communities across WA improve their waste management, the state government has committed $20 million towards initiatives like FOGO.

This funding provides essential support to ensure that FOGO services are accessible, effective, and continually expanding. With this financial backing, Kalamunda has the resources it needs to expand FOGO access to more households and strengthen local waste management programs.

4. Developing Local Waste Processing Infrastructure

Increasing the capacity of Kalamunda’s waste processing facilities is crucial to handle the rise in organic waste that FOGO brings. With more organic waste to process, the city is enhancing local infrastructure to handle composting and even exploring options to recover energy from organic materials.

By investing in these facilities, Kalamunda can manage the increase in organic waste sustainably and turn what was once waste into valuable products like compost or renewable energy, which benefits both the community and the environment.

5. Monitoring, Feedback, and Continuous Improvement

To ensure the success of its waste diversion efforts, Kalamunda is committed to ongoing monitoring and adjustment of its strategies. The city will conduct regular audits to track participation rates, assess recovery outcomes, and gather feedback from the community.

This data allows the city to make informed improvements to FOGO and other waste management programs, keeping the approach efficient and relevant to residents’ needs. Community feedback is a key part of this process, helping Kalamunda continuously refine its approach and foster a sense of shared responsibility for the environment.

Why Diverting Organic Waste Matters

The high levels of organic waste in Kalamunda’s landfills come with hidden costs to both the environment and the community. When organic materials like food scraps break down in landfills, they release methane—a greenhouse gas that’s over 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Reducing organic waste in landfills not only cuts down on harmful emissions but also creates new resources that can support local gardening and farming, creating a cycle of reuse and growth. By repurposing organic waste through the FOGO system, Kalamunda isn’t just reducing waste—it’s building a sustainable community model where resources are reused and residents actively participate in environmental stewardship.

A well-managed organic waste diversion program like FOGO helps protect the environment, reduce landfill pressure, and promote a healthier, greener community.

Building a Sustainable Future for Kalamunda

Kalamunda’s comprehensive approach to managing organic waste highlights the city’s commitment to sustainability and responsible waste management. With the FOGO system in place, Kalamunda residents have more options to dispose of their waste responsibly.

For larger clean-ups, skip bins Kalamunda with Ezyskips Online provides a convenient solution to manage and reduce waste effectively, supporting a cleaner, more sustainable community. By embracing these strategies and fostering community involvement, Kalamunda is setting an example of how waste can be managed sustainably and responsibly, ultimately creating a positive environmental impact for generations to come.