‘Awful’: Fury over ‘maggot-infested’ suburbs

A statewide mandate has divided residents and councils with some saying the scheme has turned their area into a “garbage tip”.

A statewide plan to reduce household waste has divided councils and residents, with some saying the strategy is turning suburbs into a “garbage tip”.

In November, the NSW Government introduced a bill mandating councils to implement a weekly organics pick-up by July 2030.

Some councils – including Sydney’s Inner West, Penrith, Parramatta, Randwick and Woollahra – have already adopted the scheme, however, most have reduced the size of their red bins (those used to dispose of general garbage) or altered their collections to accommodate the new service.

Inner West Council moved to a fortnightly red bin pick-up when it introduced organics bins at the start of 2024, but was quickly forced to offer residents an “opt-in” scheme for weekly collection after major community backlash.

The major issue for residents was the smell. Locals also cited an increase in maggots and flies due to the organic material from the new bins, as well as the contents of red bins now being left to fester for up to two weeks.

With the scheme – and summer – now in full swing, residents are divided over the plan.

Scheme divides as summer ‘stink’ hits

Former Erskineville resident Graham Simmons – who has since moved to the NSW Central Coast – told news.com.au he was shocked by the smell when visiting his son in Newtown over Christmas, saying the area stank “like a garbage tip”.

“I was walking down King Street and it’s just really grotty and filthy,” Mr Simmons said.

“There’s just maggots everywhere. It’s just about public health.”

He said the smell factor had prompted residents to leave their bins on the street instead of bringing them in from the kerb.

While introducing the bill in November, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said this was why a weekly pick-up was essential for the food and garden organics waste (FOGO) bins.

“We are aware of the smell issues – this mandated collection frequency aims to address that,” Ms Sharpe said.

Overflowing bins and rubbish on the floor in a street in St Peters. Picture: Supplied

Marrickville resident Nick Blundon said the concept needed work with his FOGO bin often quite empty.

“I think it’s a great idea but issues with smell in the summer,” Mr Blunden said.

“I don’t know why it could not have been a better design such as a FOGO bin piggybacked on a red bin so we could have both being picked up each week. I would be surprised that the big green FOGO bin is full. I am lucky to cover the bottom of the bin with bags.”

Briony Louise, who lives in a family of four in Marrickville, said the concept made composting easier.

“I feel great about being able to compost so much more including meat and dairy scraps, and that people that were not composting at all can now help reduce waste and help the environment. It makes my environmental consciousness happy,” she said.

“The only negative I think is that the collected council green bin can get smelly and maggots at times. I’ve found it works best if there is grass or leaf litter/plant waste in the green bin too to prevent that.”

Some of the FOGO bins put out had been contaminated by other goods. Picture: Supplied

The FOGO bins were introduced to Sydney’s Inner West council area in October 2023. Picture: Supplied

News.com.au visited Newtown and Marrickville on bin collection day and found most, if not all, red bins full to the brim, with many of the bins contaminated with non-compliant goods.

Mayor says red bin ‘essential’

If local councils fail to comply with the mandate by the July 2030 cut-off, they can be hit with a maximum fine of $500,000 and a further $50,000 fine for each day of noncompliance.

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone is publicly against the scheme and feels it does not suit the needs of Western Sydney families.

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone is against the mandate. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The state government is pretty much forcing everyone to do this,” Mr Carbone told news.com.au.

“To do (a weekly FOGO pick-up) you would have to provide more trucks and more drivers, and taxpayers will be paying.”

A FOGO bin filled with broken glass in Marrickville. Picture: Supplied

The scheme is set to become NSW-wide in 2030. Picture: Supplied

Mr Carbone said a weekly large red bin was “essential” for Sydney’s west, saying the area often had bigger families.

“What will happen is you will have young families with nappies in the red bin which will stink and create too much smell and will create a lot of problems out here in Western Sydney,” he said.

“Different areas have different needs.”

‘Swimming pools’ saved from landfill

In a statement to news.com.au, Inner West Council said the FOGO scheme had diverted more than 20,000 tonnes of organic material from landfill.

“This is equivalent to diverting 72,080 large 240L wheelie bins from landfill or seven Olympic pools of FOGO from landfill,” it said.