As the 3 bin FOGO system rolls out across all Perth and Peel local governments, more families are creating their own compost to reduce their household waste. Not only are you helping reduce landfill, but your plants will thank you for the nutrient rich goodness.
So to help you get started on your compost, we touched base with Carla from Gaia’s Organic Gardens. Read on to find out why now is a great time to start your compost and check out the edible gardens they’ve created for Perth families.
Why should I pay attention to my waste?
As a part of Western Australia’s Waste Strategy 2030, all local governments in Perth and Peel will be adopting a 3 bin system by 2025. This third FOGO bin (food organics and green organics) will help divert 70% of our waste from landfill.
Your general waste bin will not only be a smaller sized bin, but it will be collected fortnightly. So if you’re filling your general waste bin to the brim each week, you’ll need to cut back on what items you put in the bin. As the 3 bin FOGO system is being rolled out differently across the local governments, we recommend checking out your council’s website for more information.
How can composting reduce my waste?
On average, over half the waste we put into our general waste bin is actually FOGO material. So by placing materials like vegetable scraps, prunings, leaves and weeds into your compost, you’ll be freeing up space in your general waste bin.
Note: Not everything that is FOGO can go in your compost. Dairy, meat and bones should be placed in your new green FOGO bin and not your compost.
How do I get high quality compost?
We reached out to Carla Weir from Gaia’s Organic Gardens. Carla helps Perth families grow their own edible gardens in their backyards so she knows how important it is to get your compost right. Here are some of her tips:
- Keep a compost bucket with a lid in the kitchen so you can easily store your food scraps.
- Your compost pile must always remain moist (but not soggy) so you might need to water it.
- Turn your compost on a weekly basis to fasten decomposition. Not only does this allow air in, but it mixes up the older items with the newer items.
- Tear or cut up the materials into smaller pieces so they break down quicker.
- Keep a similar ratio of paper, food scraps, green garden waste, and brown garden waste in your compost. You can find out more about what’s in each of these categories here.
Looking for more ways to be green? The team at Gaia’s Organic Gardens can create an edible garden in your backyard! They’ll take care of everything from the design, installation and even the maintenance if you need. Check out some of the gardens they’ve completely transformed or head to their website for more info.
Here are some of the common questions Carla gets asked. You can reach out to her via carla@gaiasorganicgardens.com.au
Do you run workshops?
Sure do- we run many educational workshops throughout the year! Past workshops have focused on making your own fermented foods and drinks, growing our own edible weeds, and creating clean beauty products straight from your backyard. You can check out our workshops here.
Can you tell me why my plants keep dying?
You will meet with your supervisor and walk through your home. We encourage our clients to turn on the taps, flush the toilet, and light the stove. This is so we can check that everything is working as it should be. Your supervisor will make a note of any issues that need to be rectified.
Can you design my backyard or verge for me?
Absolutely! We offer garden consultations all over Perth. We can help you with an empty backyard or verge, or transform an existing garden into something new.
