PORT Stephens residents should prepare for changes to their waste bin usage as Council prepares to fall in line with statewide requirements.
All NSW councils must adopt a new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service from July 2027.
The new service aims to redirect food scraps from general waste to organic waste, and in doing so halve the amount of food waste being sent to landfill.
Under the change, food scraps will be placed in the existing green‑lid bin alongside garden organics, instead of the general waste (red‑lid) bin.
While weekly collection of the green‑lid FOGO bin is confirmed, Council is still determining whether the red‑lid general waste bin will move to a weekly or fortnightly cycle.
Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson said that community feedback guides the decision on the future red-lid bin schedule.
Bin sizes and the yellow‑lid recycling schedule will remain the same.
Mayor Anderson said the shift would deliver significant environmental benefits and give residents a direct role in shaping the final service design.
“Moving food waste into the green lid bin stops it from creating harmful greenhouse gases in landfill and reduces how much waste is dumped,” Mayor Anderson said.
“This simple change will give our community the tools to recycle tonnes of organic waste into rich compost every year.”
Port Stephens councillors will consider survey results and financial analysis at the September Council Meeting and are expected at that point to make a decision on the frequency of red-lid bin service.
Residents can share their views through the Waste Services Survey on Council’s website until 4 August 2026.
By Ruby van de WIJGAART
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