The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced a $291,785 grant to Logan City Council’s (LCC) renewable energy study on Oct. 12.
The $648,411 feasibility study investigates diverting household food and green organics (FOGO) into renewable energy (biomethane, biochar and fertiliser prill) at the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Currently, more than a third of LLC household waste is FOGO, but in 2024, the study results will help introduce a broader FOGO waste collection service.
Meanwhile, most of the nation’s household FOGO is sent directly to landfills, producing harmful methane emissions.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said too much household FOGO is currently going to waste. The study is an opportunity to turn it into energy resources and assist the “pressing” emissions reduction challenge.
LLC Mayor Darren Power said the FOGO study was the “next logical step'” in the council’s sustainability and waste repurposing journey.
“We’re excited to collaborate with ARENA on this study to create a greener future,” Mr. Power said.
It comes after ARENA delivered $6.2 million to LCC for a gasification facility at the wastewater treatment plant, which turns biosolids into renewable energy and biochar. It’s been in operation since 2022.
The biochar could be used with FOGO waste liquid to produce fertiliser, and Logan Water hopes for an integrated facility supporting an onsite bioenergy recovery ecosystem.
Further, ARENA delivered the $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) to support reduced emissions from industrial facilities and align them with Australia’s 2030 targets and the 2050 transition to net zero. The ITS is expected to open later this year, according to ARENA.
“This funding will support the new jobs, upskilling, energy efficiency, electrification, renewable energy, storage and flexible demand technologies needed to achieve our climate targets and set our industries up for success in a net zero world,” Mr Miller said.
$151 Million to GROW FOGO in Queensland
Meanwhile, the Palaszczuk Government announced $151 million for Queensland households to dispose of organic waste on Aug. 25.Councils will apply for Growing the Recovery of Organic Waste (GROW) via FOGO waste collection services—1 million lime-green lidded organics bins—to support the state’s 2030 waste targets.
The GROW FOGO Program would also deliver household kitchen caddies to keep food organics separate from general waste.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said it was essential to keep Queenslanders keen to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.
Mr. Miles said organic resources can be processed into “high-value compost, mulch, and soil products” for “tree planting, soil improvement, and revegetation projects.”
“This means that important nutrients and resources in food scraps will be reused and put back into the environment as compost, keeping it out of landfill and putting food waste to good use,” he said.
Up to 50 percent of the state’s general kerbside waste is organic, one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Council of Mayors Waste Management Plan.
Further, statewide data indicated that of 2 million households with a general curbside waste service, 92 percent have a recycling bin, but only 17 percent have an organics bin.
Environment and Great Barrier Reef Minister Meaghan Scanlon said when organic waste breaks down in landfill and releases methane, the estimated global warming potential is 28-36 times that of carbon dioxide.
Council of Mayors Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said South East Queensland’s waste management plan ensures reduced emissions impact on future generations.
“Communities across the region, including Brisbane, Ipswich and Lockyer Valley, have already shown strong interest in trialling food organic recycling. With the support of the Queensland Government, we will see even more households transitioning to new green-top bins in the coming years,” Mr. Schrinner said.
FOGO Contamination Costing the Environment
However, Cooma’s FOGO program in New South Wales (NSW) had 5 tonnes of contaminated FOGO sent to a landfill during a week, one of its worst weeks for contamination, according to Snowy Monaro Regional Council.During the week of Sept. 19, 28,500 kg of CO2 equivalent was released into the atmosphere, the same amount of CO2 an average household emits over 6.97 years, the council said.
Meanwhile, disposing of it costs ratepayers $1200. Contaminants from FOGO, such as biohazardous, medical, and sharp materials, means Councils cannot handpick them out.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council called for Cooma residents to “do the right thing. Remember, if it grows, it goes in your FOGO.”
Further, Greens spokesperson Jo Clay said the ACT’s FOGO delay set the territory up for climate failure in July.
Ms. Clay said the ACT government committed to recovering household food waste from 2023. However, this has been delayed until 2026.
“We’re in a climate crisis. Organic waste accounts for almost one-tenth of our emissions, so we cannot delay action to reduce its impact,” Ms. Clay said.
“The longer we leave it, the longer we will see emissions from landfill. If we’re still sending organic waste to landfill in 2026, that waste will still generate emissions in 2046,” she said.
“We can take real climate action now.”
