The introduction of a new waste management strategy aimed at reducing household waste has sparked a heated debate across New South Wales, with some residents and councils at odds over the changes. The plan, which mandates a weekly organics pick-up by July 2030, has been met with both support and fury, as some claim it has transformed their neighbourhoods into veritable ‘garbage tips’.
The NSW Government’s initiative, introduced in November, was designed to encourage composting and reduce the amount of organic waste ending up in landfills. While the environmental intentions behind the bill are commendable, the execution has been less than stellar in the eyes of many residents.
Several councils, including those in Sydney’s Inner West, Penrith, Parramatta, Randwick, and Woollahra, have already implemented the scheme. However, to accommodate the new service, most have either reduced the size of their red bins—used for general garbage—or altered their collection schedules, with some moving to a fortnightly pick-up.
The Inner West Council, for instance, introduced organics bins at the start of 2024 and shifted to a fortnightly red bin collection. This decision was met with significant community backlash, prompting the council to offer an ‘opt-in’ scheme for weekly collection.
The primary concern among residents is the unpleasant odour emanating from the bins. The longer wait between red bin collections has led to an increase in maggots and flies, particularly during the hot summer months, as organic material and general waste are left to fester.
Former Erskineville resident Graham Simmons, who has since relocated to the NSW Central Coast, expressed his shock at the stench while visiting his son in Newtown over the holiday season. ‘I was walking down King Street and it’s just really grotty and filthy,’ he said. ‘There’s just maggots everywhere. It’s just about public health.’
The smell has become so unbearable that some residents have resorted to leaving their bins on the street rather than bringing them in after collection, exacerbating the issue.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, while introducing the bill, acknowledged the odour problem and emphasised that the weekly pick-up for food and garden organics waste (FOGO) bins was essential to address it.
Despite the challenges, there are residents who see the value in the new system. Marrickville’s Briony Louise, part of a family of four, appreciates the ease of composting more materials, including meat and dairy scraps. ‘It makes my environmental consciousness happy,’ she said, though she admitted that the council’s green bin can get smelly and attract maggots at times.
On the other hand, Nick Blundon, another Marrickville resident, believes the concept needs refinement. He pointed out that his FOGO bin is often quite empty and suggested a better design might involve a FOGO bin attached to a red bin for simultaneous weekly pick-ups.
The Inner West Council has reported that the FOGO scheme has diverted more than 20,000 tonnes of organic material from landfills, equating to the volume of seven Olympic swimming pools. This significant achievement highlights the potential environmental benefits of the program.
However, Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone has voiced his opposition, arguing that the scheme does not cater to the needs of Western Sydney families, where larger households are common. He fears that a weekly large red bin is ‘essential’ to manage waste such as nappies, which could otherwise create a stench and attract vermin.
The stakes are high for local councils, as failure to comply with the mandate by the July 2030 deadline could result in fines of up to $500,000, with additional penalties for each day of non-compliance.
As NSW grapples with the challenges of its new organic waste law, it’s clear that the road to sustainability isn’t without its bumps. Have you experienced similar issues in your area? How do you feel about the changes and the penalties for non-compliance? We’d love to hear your thoughts—share your comments below and join the conversation!
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I’m a resident of Newtown I work in the waste industry and this new system is totally disgusting all you can smell in the breeze is the smell of rotten garbage inside your house and millions of flies and it doesn’t help when the garbage collectors miss picking up your bin so then it’s 2 more weeks to collection day you can ring the council for an emergency pick up good luck they just b/s you I spent a total of 28 hrs on call waiting to have the issue resolved to no avail WHAT A JOKE or the garbage collectors poor someone else’s putrid slops into your reasonably clean green bin cause they are too lazy to take all the bins over to the truck and then your bin smells like a garbage tip hear is a tip let’s just take all our putrid garbage to penny sharps place and pour it all over her door step if she thinks it is a good idea