Residents will soon be able to buy high-quality compost made from their Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collections, with sales launching this coming Monday, December 2.
Following successful trials in Council’s parks and open spaces, FOGO compost is now ready for community use.
Valmar, Council’s waste partner, is preparing the compost for sale which as well as providing high quality local compost is also creating employment opportunities for local disability workers.
The 15kg bags will be available at a special launch price of $12 each and can be bought from Monday at all Council Resource Recovery Centres (RRCs) and from Valmar Pinecom Industries in Jarrah Road, Tumut.
Bulk purchases by the cubic metre will also be on offer at the Tumut and Tumbarumba RRCs from January. Bulk compost will be sold at $110 per tonne.
The high-quality compost, finely screened to 6mm, is said by Snowy Valleys Council to be ideal for topdressing lawns and gardens. It meets Australian Standards for retail and wholesale soil products and is aimed at soil improvement, moisture retention, and promoting robust plant growth with essential nutrients.
A bulkier compost option (screened up to 20mm) will also be available in the future, says Council.
The FOGO collection program began three years ago and sees residents place food scraps in with garden clippings and other organic waste in the green bins. An average of 12kg of FOGO waste per household is being diverted from landfill each week, says Council.