How to Dispose of Compostable Packaging Correctly (FOGO and Bin Guide)

Most people pick up a compostable cup or plate and stand in front of the bins, wondering where it actually goes. If you want to know how to dispose of compostable packaging correctly, the short answer is: it depends on whether your item is certified for home or commercial composting, and what your local council accepts. This guide breaks it down by product type, certification, and bin, so you never have to guess again.

Quick Answer

Home compostable items can go in your home compost bin. Commercially compostable items need a FOGO bin or a commercial composting facility. Neither type belongs in the recycling bin. Check your council's website to confirm what your green or FOGO bin accepts.

Home Compostable vs Commercially Compostable

These two terms are not the same thing. Mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes people make.

Home compostable means the item breaks down in a typical backyard compost bin, at ambient temperatures, within 12 months. In Australia, this certification follows the AS 5810 standard.

Commercially compostable means the item needs industrial conditions to break down. That means sustained temperatures above 55°C, controlled humidity, and specific facility processes. This follows the AS 4736 standard. Most PLA (polylactic acid) products, including clear lids and lined cups, fall into this category. They will not break down properly in a home compost bin, even if the label says "compostable."

When you buy compostable packaging, always check which standard applies. The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) seedling logo tells you which one.

Can It Go in the FOGO or the Green Bin?

FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics. It is the two-stream kerbside collection system that many Australian councils now use. The FOGO bin is the green or lime-coloured bin.

Whether your compostable packaging is accepted in the FOGO bin depends entirely on your council. Some Melbourne councils accept certified compostable packaging. Others do not, because their processing facility cannot handle it. Putting the wrong item in the FOGO bin is contamination, and contaminated loads can end up in the landfill.

To check your council's rules, visit their website or search on Sustainability Victoria's resource hub. This is the most reliable way to get accurate, up-to-date information for your area.

One general rule applies across most councils: the item must carry the ABA seedling logo and meet AS 4736 to be considered for FOGO bin acceptance.

Home Composting Bagasse and Paper

Bagasse plates and containers from Fayaz Disposable are made from sugarcane fibre. This is one of the easiest materials to compost at home. Bagasse is a natural plant fibre. It breaks down in a home compost bin within a few months under normal conditions, especially when you mix it with wet food scraps.

Plain paper cups and paper bags without plastic or PLA lining also compost well at home. Tear them into smaller pieces first to speed up the process.

PLA items do not work in a home compost. PLA is a plastic-like material made from corn starch. It looks like clear plastic and feels like it, too. Home compost bins do not reach the temperatures needed to break PLA down. If you put a PLA lid or PLA-lined cup in your home compost, it will still be sitting there months later.

What Not to Do

• Do not put compostable packaging in the recycling bin. This is one of the biggest contamination problems in Australian recycling. Compostable items look similar to plastic, but they are processed completely differently. When compostable packaging ends up in a recycling stream, it contaminates the load and can cause the whole batch to be rejected.
• Do not assume the landfill will break it down. Compostable items need oxygen, moisture, and microbial activity to decompose. A landfill is an anaerobic environment. Most compostable packaging takes just as long to break down in a landfill as conventional plastic, sometimes longer.
• Do not mix home compostable and commercially compostable items in your home bin. Only AS 5810 certified items belong there.

Reading the Labels

The label on your packaging tells you everything. Here is what to look for:

• ABA seedling logo with AS 4736 means the item is certified for commercial composting only. It needs a FOGO bin or industrial facility.
• ABA seedling logo with AS 5810 means the item is certified for home composting. It can go in your backyard compost bin.
• No certification logo means the item has not been independently tested. Claims like "eco-friendly" or "biodegradable" without a standard behind them are not reliable guides for disposal.

All products at Fayaz Disposable carry clear certification information so you know exactly how to dispose of them.

Disposal by Product Type

Check your council before using the FOGO bin for any item. When in doubt, call your council or use their online waste sorter tool.

How Cafés and Venues Should Handle This

If you run a café, restaurant, or event, you have more disposal options than households. You can arrange a commercial composting pickup service directly. Some providers collect compostable waste from food businesses and process it at a certified facility.

Browse our compostable cups range if you are looking for products that work within a commercial composting setup. For businesses buying in bulk, the right packaging choice at the start makes disposal much simpler at the end.

Labelling your bins clearly also helps. If staff and customers cannot tell the bins apart, contamination rates go up. Use colour coded bins and add simple signs that show which items go where.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can compostable packaging go in the compost bin?

It depends on the certification. AS 5810 certified items can go in a home compost bin. AS 4736 certified items need commercial composting conditions and should go in the FOGO bin if your council accepts them.

Can bagasse go in the FOGO bin?

Yes, in most cases. Bagasse is a natural plant fibre, and most councils that accept compostable packaging will accept bagasse. Always confirm with your specific council first.

Does compostable packaging break down in a landfill?

No. Compostable packaging needs oxygen, moisture, and microbial activity. Landfill blocks all three. Most compostable items will not break down meaningfully in a landfill.

Can I home-compost sugarcane plates?

Yes. Bagasse sugarcane plates are one of the best materials for home composting. Break them into smaller pieces and add them to your bin with food scraps. They typically break down within 90 days in an active home compost bin.

Can compostable packaging be recycled?

No. Compostable packaging does not belong in the recycling bin. It contaminates the recycling stream and can cause entire loads to be rejected and sent to the landfill.

Why can't compostable items go in the recycling bin?

Recycling facilities sort materials by type, and compostable packaging behaves differently from conventional plastic or paper. When it enters the recycling stream, it gets sorted incorrectly and causes contamination problems. The recycling bin is for glass, hard plastics, metal, and paper only.

How long does compostable packaging take to break down?

Under the right conditions, AS 4736-certified items break down within 180 days in a commercial facility. AS 5810 certified items break down within 12 months in a home compost bin. In a landfill, neither breaks down properly.

A Note on Lids and Straws

Lids and straws are often the most confusing items. Most clear lids are PLA, which means they need commercial composting. Paper straws are home compostable. View our lids and straws collection to see what certifications apply to each product before you buy.

Ready to Switch to Packaging You Can Confidently Dispose Of?

If you are still using packaging with no clear certification, now is a good time to change. At Fayaz Disposable, we supply Melbourne cafés, restaurants, and event organisers with compostable packaging that meets Australian standards. Our bowls, containers, and cutlery range is made for businesses that want to do the right thing without the guesswork.

Get in touch for bulk orders or browse the full range online.

 

Written by the Fayaz Disposable Packaging Team, Melbourne. We supply compostable and eco-friendly catering disposables to businesses across Melbourne and surrounding regions.