Australia faces severe plastic pollution and an imminent landfill challenge. Recent research indicates that one million tonnes of Australia’s annual plastic consumption is single-use, 84 per cent of which ends up in landfill, with 130,000 tonnes leaking into the marine environment annually. Moreover, many landfills across the country are projected to run out of space within the next two to three years.
MyEcoBag, an Australian producer of compostable packaging, claims to be leading the compostable revolution. The company’s bin liners contribute to reducing landfill, creating jobs, and saving money for councils and ratepayers when used as part of a council Green Bin FOGO (Food Organics, Garden Organics) program.
An analysis of 415 councils in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia shows that 173 councils have introduced a FOGO program, with 85 per cent of those having issued or allowed compostable bin liners. Many Australians use these compostable bags to manage food scraps, reducing mess and spillage.
The convenience and cleanliness of caddy liners have been shown to increase the diversion of food waste by around 30 per cent, reducing both financial and environmental costs for councils and ratepayers. The use of bioplastics also replaces virgin plastics entering the waste system.
A recent study tracking the current and projected impacts of the FOGO program noted that Perth, Adelaide, all of Victoria, and New South Wales will have FOGO collections by 2030, aiming to achieve the national 80 per cent diversion from landfill target by 2030, alongside real greenhouse gas reductions.
Tasmania and the ACT have also committed, with individual councils in Queensland, including Brisbane, Townsville, Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast, advancing FOGO initiatives.
According to the study, these efforts could result in six million tonnes of FOGO, yielding 3.5 million tonnes of compost, seven million tonnes less C02 per year, 40,000 tonnes of carbon in soil, and over 8000 new jobs.
Penrith City Council, which introduced a FOGO bin in 2009, has seen positive outcomes. In the first 12 months, 61.5 per cent of waste was diverted from landfill, compared to 20 per cent the prior year.
Annually, 33,000 tonnes of organic waste are now collected and processed into compost, saving over $42 million since 2009. These savings have been passed on to Penrith residents through lower domestic waste charges.
Richard Tegoni, CEO of MyEcoBag’s parent company SECOS, emphasised the importance of adopting compostable bin liners.
“The cost to our planet, our councils, and our ratepayers when FOGO material isn’t properly disposed of is significant. MyEcoBag’s role in reducing these costs, especially to our planet and future generations, is a major driver for us,” Tegoni said.
“The success of FOGO programs and the use of certified compostable bin liners over the last ten years have established a proven model for organic waste diversion and reducing greenhouse emissions.”
MyEcoBag has been supplying compostable bin liners and pet waste bags to Australians for over a decade. The company has sold 500 million compostable bags globally in the past six years, equating to approximately 3.3 million kilograms of conventional plastic replaced with a more environmentally friendly alternative. MyEcoBag products, certified to fully compost within 90 days, leave no microplastics or toxic residue and are made from GMO-free corn and other compostable materials.
MyEcoBag leads the market in compostable bin liner bags in major Australian grocery stores, accounting for 35 per cent of compostable bag sales. The company saw over 140 per cent growth in FY23 compared to the previous year, driven by the FOGO program rollout.
