AORA has recently reviewed and updated its “Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Position Paper” which is now available on the AORA website.
This document has been prepared by AORA to provide a guidance framework for the key issues and considerations for the recycled organics industry throughout the transition from household Garden Organics collections to the mandated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collections, and the delivery of Food Organics (FO) and FOGO collections for businesses by 2030.
As Australia continues to transition to a FOGO service across states, territories, and local government areas, it is vital that there is a clear understanding on what the service should be aiming to deliver, why and how. The value of a successful FOGO service is dependent on strong understanding and collaboration across the value chain and the delivery from the organics processing sector on a product of maximum quality to satisfy end-use markets.
The key consideration from the AORA Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Position Paper are:
- AORA and the recycled organics industry is committed to generating high-quality compost outputs that promote the protection of the environment and human health.
- Minimising contamination in feedstock is critical to enable efficient and effective processing of organics into high quality end products.
- AORA supports a national target of less than 2% contamination in source separated organics.
- Consistent education and messaging across Industry, Councils and Government is vital to achieve behaviour change and support a sustainable Organics industry.
AORA actively advocates for consistent policy and regulatory settings that promote the delivery of clean, source separated organic feedstock without plastics, chemicals and other contaminants to organics recycling facilities. AORA continues to advocate for the elimination of hazardous materials and contaminants from all feedstock streams, noting that this is one of the most significant threats to the future success of recycling and the circular economy.
However, our message on responsibility is also clear – the end of the supply chain is not where regulation of any contamination should occur but rather, elimination at the front end of the supply chain. Unless we responsibly and actively eliminate potential contaminants from use, they will remain a problem which cannot be resolved at organic processing facilities.
AORA Media Contact: Mr John McKew, National Executive Officer ([email protected]) / 0434 711 077