Freda Gilbert (left) and Tiana Deeth (right) gardening at the Gather and Grow weekly session. Photo: Nikki Bailey.
The rollout of a food and organics waste system in Esperance was scheduled to “GO LIVE” in early July last year but residents will now have to wait until early 2027.
The Shire of Esperance endorsed a plan for a three-bin system in February 2022, with the introduction of a FOGO service for food and garden waste.
The Shire said the green-lidded bin would prevent an estimated 3,500 tonnes of waste entering landfill each year.
Its implementation depended on the development of the new Myrup Waste Management Facility.
In its 2022 plan, the Shire wrote that the FOGO rollout date “will allow sufficient time for the commissioning of the Waste Transfer Station”.
But the station, which on completion will process and compact waste for transportation to Coolgardie, is now expected to be operational in two years’ time due to funding.
The Shire has set aside $22.1 million for the project over the next two annual budgets.
A Shire spokesperson said the Myrup facility was “progressing well” and said construction would begin in mid to late 2025.
“Bulk earthworks and drainage are almost complete, contracts for the waste compactor and trailers and the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) equipment have been awarded,” the spokesperson said.
“An item to award the major building and concrete works is on the Council agenda for consideration this month and tenders for the site electrical works is currently being advertised.”
According to a 2022 Shire report, food and garden organics constituted 50 per cent of household garbage in Esperance.
Avid gardeners said locals could reduce their landfill footprint now by composting at home or at the Esperance community garden.
Silke Apel runs weekly “Gather and Grow” sessions at the Cannery Arts Centre.
She said the garden had four compost bases for yard trimmings and worm farms for food scraps.
She said anyone was welcome to put their organics in the bins.
“Keeping [organics] out of landfill is a big thing,” Ms Apel said.
“Not too many people know about it yet but this place is open all the time.”
Ms Apel encouraged people to take steps at home too.
“I’d like to see more people doing home composting and educating people on how to do it, so when they get a compost bin they actually know how to fill it to create the best environment for it to break down quickly,” she said.
“I think people should start at home – they can get a worm farm which is really easy to get going and to maintain because worms don’t need much.
“With the worm farms, any food scraps can go in there.”
At present, rubbish from Esperance goes to the Wylie Bay Waste Facility, before being transported to Coolgardie.
The FOGO rollout is part of the state government Better Bins Plus initiative.
Esperance received a $124,000 grant for the implementation of the organic waste system.
