Food organics and garden organics (FOGO) waste makes up the largest percentage of material sent to landfill in Australia, at 31%.64 It captures a variety of waste types, including garden organics, food waste, biosolids, clean timber, wood chips, non-recyclable paper and cardboard, grease trap waste, food processing residues and agricultural waste.
FOGO waste is created along the entire supply chain, from the moment food is gathered or harvested to when it is either eaten or disposed of.
Approximately 6.7 Mt of organics go to landfill each year, producing methane-heavy greenhouse gases as they decompose.65 Methane gas is 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Diverting organics from landfill will not only prevent a significant proportion of waste from ending up in landfill, it will reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
Industries and companies that generate and separate FOGO waste are acting to reduce it by:
• exploring bioenergy opportunities
• incentivising businesses that reduce FOGO generation
• discounting food
• using packaging and food branding to educate consumers and reduce waste.66
Despite this activity, substantial amounts of FOGO waste are still being sent to landfill.