City of Rockingham has 'no plans' to reinstate weekly general waste collection despite public backlash

The City of Rockingham say they have "no plans" to reinstate weekly general waste collections despite several complaints from residents.

The three-bin FOGO system came into effect on June 30, with the red-lidded general waste bin now collected fortnightly and the green waste bin weekly.

Hundreds of residents have taken to social media reporting an increase in flies, maggots and overflowing bins with many resorting to using public bins at parks and beaches to dump their extra waste.

There are also online petitions calling for weekly general waste collections to be reinstated.

City of Rockingham Mayor Lorna Buchan said the City implemented FOGO in accordance with State Government guidelines.

"(The City) joins more than 25 other Local Government authorities in Western Australia that have already successfully adopted this approach to greatly reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill and improve recycling and resource recovery," Mayor Buchan said.

"Accordingly, the City has no plans to revert to weekly general waste collections.

"The City encourages all residents to make the most of the three-bin system, because the less waste they send to landfill the more sustainable the future will be for our community.

"The City requests any resident using public bins for personal waste to stop doing so and contact the City to discuss their individual circumstances."

PIC: City of Rockingham

Mayor Buchan said while the "vast majority" of residents have adapted to FOGO, anyone that is experiencing challenges are encouraged to contact them on 9528 0333.

"The FOGO system has already increased resource recovery rates. In the first three months of operation the amount of waste being diverted from landfill increased from 39% to 56.8%," Mayor Buchan said.

"The bin size and collection schedule for the three-bin system we have adopted is the recommended model to achieve the best possible recovery rates from a kerbside waste collection service, according to the WA Better Practice Guidelines."

Residents can request a second red-lidded general waste bin at a cost of $256 per year.

The City has received 320 requests for a second red bin since the FOGO system began out of 58,000 residential properties.

Frequently asked questions about the FOGO system can be found on the City's website.