Everything you put in your FOGO bin is turned into compost and used to enrich soils on regional farms and in local parks and gardens.
All food and garden bin waste collected in the Macedon Ranges is sent to Biomix Premium Composts in Stanhope.
When each load arrives at the Biomix facility, they are checked for foreign contamination. Contaminants are removed (such as glass, metal, plastic), then it is transferred to composting vessels to allow composting to occur under controlled conditions.
Once in the composting vessel, bacteria breaks down the sugars and other readily degradable materials which causes a rapid rise in temperature. The heat rises to somewhere between 50 and 70°C killing any insects, weeds, weed seeds, fungi, viruses and pathogenic bacteria that might be in the compost.
This temperature is maintained until all of the readily degradable organics have been broken down.
After 10-14 days, the compost is taken out of the composting vessels and put in open windrows. This exposes it to the wind and is regularly turned to increase oxygen and reduce temperatures. Water is added to help the compost mature and stabilise.
After 12 weeks the compost is checked for any large pieces which are returned to the composting process. The ready to use compost is then distributed to farmlands, parks and gardens.