Picking up new habits is often easier said than done, especially with things as routine as throwing scraps in the bin. But it's more important than ever that we all play our part in reducing waste, especially when it's as easy as using food and garden organic (FOGO) bins.
With that in mind, we partnered up with the legends at Sustainability Victoria to ask the Urban List crew how they make a habit out of saving their kitchen scraps from landfill. So if you've been staring at that FOGO kitchen caddy wondering what on earth to do with it, we might just have the answers for you.
Collect Your Coffee Grounds
Our resident coffee lover and Commercial Content Editor Bridget uses her kitchen caddy to collect her coffee grounds each morning—making sure they aren't added to her general waste, while also making use of her FOGO bin, an easy step in her morning routine.
"It also helps keep any gross smells at bay and makes emptying it a lot nicer," Bridget says.
Use A Big Bowl To Collect Scraps As You Cook
Our Client Service Manager Mary uses a bowl to collect food scraps as she cooks.
"It keeps surfaces clean as I go for a big ol' dump in the FOGO bin at the end of a cook," she says.
This way, rather than lots of small trips to the bin, or trying to scrape veggie peels off the bench once dinner is ready, all she has to do is tip the bowl into the bin.
Make Use Of Local Collection Points
Not all Victorian homes have their own personal FOGO bins or home compost systems, but living in an apartment doesn't mean you can't save on food waste.
Melbourne Editor Navarone suggests checking if you have a local council FOGO drop-off point near you (you can check through your local council's website), or finding a community garden that collects scraps for compost.
"I usually gather all of my food scraps up, freeze them in reusable containers, and once a week I pop down to the local council street collection point and deposit them there," Navarone says.
Freezing your scraps makes sure they don't get a little funky in between trips, and using reusable containers keeps your waste reduction on track by minimising single-use plastic.
Don't Skip The Stickers
It can be easy to just throw bits in your bin without really giving them a second thought (we've all done it). But SEO Specialist Amy reminds us to take the time to check for those pesky stickers and make sure you're separating any material that isn't compatible with your FOGO bin.
"It might sound basic, but I make sure to remove any plastic wrapping or fruit stickers from my produce beforehand, so they can go in the rubbish bin separately and not in the FOGO bin," she says. It's a small detail that makes a big difference.
Empty Your Caddy Every Night
Business Director Annie has made emptying her family's FOGO caddy a part of their everyday routine.
"My youngest son loves emptying it every night, so it’s just become part of our family routine," she says. "As a bonus, it doesn’t get stinky inside."
Annie says her fam has made use of their FOGO caddy since the day it landed on their doorstep. "It’s better for the environment, and ensures less goes in the red bin—win, win."
Inspired to make a change? Head to Sustainability Victoria to learn more about making the most of every last scrap.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sustainability Victoria and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Imagery: Supplied.