The South Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC) and City of Melville were awarded the Avoid Recover Protect – Waste Management Award at this year’s Infinity Awards for the first Perth Metropolitan three-bin Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) trial.
The Infinity Awards acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Western Australians working towards a better waste future through improved waste practices and innovative waste solutions. This year’s awards saw a record number of nominations with more than 100 entries from organisations and individuals throughout Western Australia across a range of different categories.
The three-bin FOGO trial was rolled out to approximately 7000 households in the City of Melville as part of a joint project between the Cities of Fremantle and Melville, Town of East Fremantle and the SMRC. The trial demonstrated that the system achieved greater than 65 per cent diversion from landfill, reduced processing costs, produced an Australian Standard Compost and received strong support and participation from the community.
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Mayor Russell Aubrey thanked all of the residents who were involved in the trial for their efforts and commitment.
“Your contributions have helped to reduce waste to landfill, while producing a high-quality compost, which can be used help to enrich local soils,” Mayor Aubrey said.
Cr Doug Thompson said the recognition is a testament to the outstanding contributions and hard work by all of those involved.
“Staff and residents should be incredibly proud of this collective achievement, which highlights the importance of collaboration and an evidence based approach to decision making,” Cr Thompson said.
The success of the project will now see the system rolled out throughout to the remaining residents in the City of Melville, alongside the City of Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle in the second half of 2019.
Alongside this achievement, the SMRC and the Waste and Recycling Industry Association of WA, Cleanaway WA, SUEZ WA and Western Australian Local Government Association also received a highly commended recognition for the development of statewide guidelines for kerbside recycling in the Avoid Recover Protect – Waste Management category.
Featured image: L-R – City of Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt, City of Melville Mayor Russell Aubrey, Town of East Fremantle Mayor Jim O’Neill, SMRC Chief Executive Officer Tim Youé.