Waste Services Update: Your Questions Answered

We understand the frustration, and it’s a fair question.

Your waste service charges cover much more than just bin collection. They fund a range of essential services that keep our city clean and safe every day, including verge collections, street sweeping, public and event bin maintenance, hard and green waste services, waste fleet maintenance, illegal dumping response, litter collection, graffiti removal, and waste education. These services operate regardless of which bin configuration is in place.

It’s also worth noting that since FOGO material started being directed to landfill in late 2024, disposal costs at the gate have actually increased by over 21%. The City has absorbed that increase rather than passing it on to residents.

We understand the frustration that FOGO isn’t currently being processed as intended.

Council has now endorsed proceeding with FOGO processing, expected to resume from October 2026. We’ll be upfront – processing costs more than landfill, and Council is actively working to reduce that cost through State support, shared regional transport, and contract negotiation.

We want FOGO working properly for our community, and this decision gets us moving again. More detail on the decision and costs is available on this page.

We understand the appeal of simplifying things, especially through a frustrating period.

Council did consider alternative service models, including a two-bin system, as part of its review – and has endorsed continuing with FOGO. Any move away from FOGO would need to account for the financial, environmental, and regulatory implications for our community.

Moving away from FOGO would also mean:

• More organic waste going directly to landfill, with rising disposal costs and environmental impacts
• Moving away from State waste strategy requirements that all WA councils are working toward
• Potentially exposing the City to future State landfill levies
• Losing the infrastructure and community investment we’ve built over more than a decade
• Potentially losing access to State Government funding and support tied to waste reduction

We’re committed to making FOGO work properly. Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing, expected from October 2026, with material transported to licensed facilities in the short term while we pursue a permanent regional processing facility for the long term.

We hear you, and we share your frustration that FOGO processing hasn’t been available during this period.

It’s worth noting that your waste service charges cover much more than just bin collection. They fund verge collections, street sweeping, public and event bin maintenance, hard and green waste services, waste fleet maintenance, illegal dumping response, litter collection, graffiti removal, and waste education, and development of future processing infrastructure.

Any move away from FOGO would need to account for the financial, environmental, and regulatory implications for our community, including potentially exposing the City to future State landfill levies.

We’re committed to making FOGO work properly. Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing, expected from October 2026, with material transported to licensed facilities in the short term while we pursue a permanent regional processing facility for the long term.

As part of its review, Council considered alternative service models, including a potential return to a two-bin system. After weighing the options, Council determined that continuing with FOGO processing best supports the community’s long-term interests, environmental commitments, and protection against future State landfill levies. The current focus is on resuming FOGO processing while working to reduce costs

Right now, we know it can feel pointless, and we understand that frustration.

Here’s why it still matters:

Keeping the habit going means we’re ready when processing resumes. Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing from October 2026, and restarting community habits from scratch is much harder than maintaining them.

Contamination was a major factor in the challenges at Banksia Road. When processing resumes, clean inputs will be essential to keeping costs down and making the system work. Building good habits now sets us up for success.

Your effort directly affects cost. Contaminated loads cost more to process and dispose of. Every household that gets it right helps keep FOGO affordable and viable for our community.

We’re asking our community to stay the course. It won’t be wasted effort.

Following the closure of the Banksia Road facility in December 2024, the nearest licensed FOGO processing facilities are located in the Perth metropolitan area. We agree this isn’t ideal – the transport distances and associated costs are exactly why a permanent regional processing facility is needed.

In the interim, FOGO will be consolidated locally before being transported to Perth for processing, which helps reduce overall transport costs. The State Government provides a $95 per tonne rebate to help offset these costs, and Council is continuing to work with the State to increase that support.

Council remains committed to establishing a permanent FOGO processing facility right here in the South West. That’s the long-term fix – processing organic waste locally, reducing transport costs and emissions, and supporting our regional economy.

Your FOGO bin continues to be collected on your scheduled collection day. Currently, FOGO material is being directed to landfill following the closure of the Banksia Road processing facility in December 2024.

We know this isn’t the outcome anyone wants – and there’s good news. Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing, expected from October 2026. In the short term, material will be transported to licensed facilities in Perth, while Council pursues a permanent regional processing facility as the long-term solution.

In the meantime, we encourage residents to keep separating food and garden organics correctly and to compost at home where possible. When processing resumes, clean material will be essential to keeping costs down and making the system work.

Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing for our community. Here’s the plan:

Resuming processing: FOGO processing is expected to resume from October 2026. In the short term, material will be transported to licensed facilities in Perth.

Managing the cost: Resuming processing costs more than landfill – around $1.27 million per year, compared to approximately $574,000 to landfill, an additional cost of around $695,000. Council is actively working to reduce this through State support, shared regional transport, and contract negotiation. The State Government provides a $95 per tonne rebate – a significant improvement on its original sliding-scale offer, secured through advocacy by South West councils including Bunbury.

A permanent regional facility: Council is supporting the development of a permanent FOGO processing facility within the South West – the long-term solution that would significantly reduce costs by removing long-distance transport to Perth.

We’ll provide updates as contracts are finalised and key milestones are reached.

Council is working on multiple fronts:

• Resuming FOGO processing: Processing is set to resume from October 2026, with material transported to licensed facilities while a permanent regional solution is developed
• A permanent regional facility: Pursuing a local processing facility in the South West – the long-term solution that removes costly long-distance transport
• Reducing costs: Working with the State Government on support, collaborating with neighbouring shires on shared transport, and negotiating contract pricing
• BHRC governance review: Evaluating the operating model, governance structure, and long-term options with the Shire of Harvey
• Industry and regional partnerships: Exploring opportunities with the waste industry and neighbouring councils for sustainable regional solutions

We know our community has wanted a clear answer on when FOGO would be processed again. Council’s decision to resume processing from October 2026 provides that, while the work toward a permanent regional facility continues.

We also know that “we’re working on it” isn’t an answer anyone wants to hear indefinitely. This decision is a concrete step forward – Council is committed to delivering a sustainable, long-term plan, not just managing the status quo.

The City has provided financial support to the Bunbury Harvey Regional Council over several years to ensure our community retains access to essential waste services. Over the past five years, this has included contributions toward operations, infrastructure, landfill capping, and facility remediation totalling several million dollars.

We won’t sugar-coat it, continued contributions of this nature aren’t sustainable, and our community rightly expects a better path forward.

That’s why Council is actively reviewing the BHRC governance structure and operating model, working with the Shire of Harvey to establish a long-term arrangement that is financially sustainable and delivers value for ratepayers.

BHRC operates key waste infrastructure for our community, including the Stanley Road Waste Management Facility and waste transfer stations serving Bunbury and Harvey residents. These services need to continue operating while the review progresses.

Council approved an operating contribution of $280,000 to the Bunbury Harvey Regional Council for the 2025/26 financial year. This represents the City’s 50 per cent share, with the Shire of Harvey contributing an equal amount.

BHRC operates the region’s only municipal landfill and recycling facility at Stanley Road. Current operating licence conditions have impacted the facility’s revenue, creating a short-term funding gap. This contribution ensures essential waste services continue for our community.

We won’t sugar-coat it, continued contributions of this nature aren’t sustainable. That’s why a comprehensive review of BHRC’s governance and operating model is underway, focused on establishing a long-term arrangement that delivers value for ratepayers.

Current waste service charges are set through the annual budget process. The contributions to BHRC are funded from the Refuse Collection and Waste Minimisation Reserve, which exists specifically for waste management purposes and does not impact other City services or general rates.

Any future changes to waste charges would be considered as part of Council’s annual budget deliberations, with community consultation as required.

Council is mindful of cost-of-living pressures and is focused on finding efficiencies and long-term solutions that minimise impacts on ratepayers.

Current waste service charges are set through the annual budget process. The contributions to regional waste infrastructure are funded from the Refuse Collection and Waste Minimisation Reserve, which exists specifically for waste management purposes.

Since FOGO started going to landfill, disposal costs have increased by over 21%. The City has absorbed this increase rather than passing it on to residents.

Council has requested a comprehensive report on service costs and options, including full financial modelling, to ensure any long-term decisions deliver value for the community. Any future changes to waste charges would be considered as part of Council’s annual budget process.

Council is mindful of cost-of-living pressures and is focused on finding solutions that minimise impacts on ratepayers.

This is a regional challenge affecting multiple South West councils, not just Bunbury. Several councils across the region have faced the same FOGO processing challenges following the closure of the Banksia Road facility.

Your waste service charges continue to fund essential services that operate every day – verge collections, street sweeping, public and event bin maintenance, hard and green waste services, waste fleet maintenance, illegal dumping response, litter collection, graffiti removal, and waste education.

Council is committed to ensuring our waste services deliver value for ratepayers. After reviewing costs and service options, Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing from October 2026, while actively working to reduce costs through State support, shared regional transport, and contract negotiation.

We’ll keep our community informed as processing resumes and as we work toward a permanent regional solution.

It’s a fair assumption – and we’ll be upfront: sending FOGO to landfill does cost less right now than processing it. Resuming FOGO processing costs around $695,000 more per year.

So why are we doing it? Because landfill is the cheaper option today that carries growing costs tomorrow.

Organic waste in landfill generates greenhouse gas emissions and takes up valuable landfill space. The State Government is moving toward landfill levies for regional areas – similar to those already applied in Perth – which would significantly increase the cost of landfilling over time. Continuing FOGO also keeps the City eligible for waste-reduction grant funding.

There’s also no saving on collection – your bins are collected on the same schedule regardless, so the trucks are on the road either way.

Council has weighed this carefully and determined that resuming FOGO – while actively working to reduce the cost – is the better long-term decision for our community and our environment.

Council has endorsed resuming FOGO processing, with material expected to be processed again from October 2026.

In the short term, FOGO will be transported to licensed facilities in Perth, while Council pursues a permanent regional processing facility as the long-term solution.

In the meantime, we encourage residents to keep separating food and garden organics correctly. When processing resumes, clean material will be essential to keeping costs down and making the system work.

The State Government provides a $95 per tonne rebate to help offset the cost of transporting FOGO to processing facilities. This rebate is factored into Council’s decision to resume FOGO processing and helps reduce the cost to our community.

The rebate is itself a significant improvement on the State’s original offer – a sliding scale starting at $75 per tonne and dropping to $20 by year three. South West councils, including Bunbury, advocated strongly for a better deal, resulting in the flat $95 per tonne rate.

Even so, the real cost of transporting FOGO to Perth – particularly given current fuel and freight costs – exceeds the support currently provided. Council is continuing to work with the State Government to increase the rebate so it better reflects the genuine cost of delivering FOGO services in regional areas.