Repurpose It Launches Australia’s First FOGO Month to Tackle Household Waste

Australia’s first Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) Month launches this October, led by Victorian-based resource recovery pioneer Repurpose It as a national campaign to reduce household waste and strengthen Australians’ understanding of recycling and the circular economy.

Kicking off from 1 October, the initiative tackles food and garden waste and is designed to educate and inspire households, councils and communities to turn waste into a valuable resource.

The launch of FOGO Month follows new research showing a mixed picture when it comes to recycling. Australians are becoming more confident that their waste is being properly recycled, with trust in the system improving and fewer people believing most waste ends up in landfill. Yet the findings also reveal persistent gaps in understanding.

While many Australians feel reassured that recycling is happening, they often don’t know how it works or how it supports the circular economy. In fact:

• 70.4% of Australians admit they have only a “little” understanding of recycling methods.
• 75.7% believe their recycling is processed and turned into new products, but 15.6% still believe it ends up in landfill — indicating improved trust, but highlighting a gap that needs addressing.
• On Australia’s progress towards a circular economy, 31.1% say the country is not moving fast enough, while a further 33.9% believe more could be done.

These knowledge gaps highlight the urgent need for greater education and engagement — which is exactly what FOGO Month has been created to deliver.

With food waste making up a large proportion of household rubbish, FOGO Month provides a timely opportunity to close these gaps. By educating households on what FOGO is, how to do it correctly and where it goes, Repurpose It is driving greater participation and reducing contamination.

“Australians want to know where their waste goes, and they’re more engaged than ever in sustainability,” said George Hatzimanolis, CEO of Repurpose It. “This research shows that while trust in recycling is improving, there’s still work to do in helping people understand how materials are reused. FOGO Month is about giving people the tools to take action at home and showing them how their organics can be turned into something valuable like compost for our parks, gardens and farms.”

Throughout October, Repurpose It will educate communities, share practical guidance on separating food and garden organics, and showcase how FOGO waste is transformed into new products. By bringing households into the story of the circular economy, FOGO Month aims to spark a long-lasting shift in behaviour.

FOGO recycling is one of the simplest and most impactful ways Australian households can contribute to a more sustainable future. Through inspiring action, reducing contamination and making the circular economy more accessible, Repurpose It hopes to help Australians create a greener future — one household at a time.

More information: repurposeit.com.au