Petition to Wellington Shire Council

Wellington Shire residents are deeply concerned about the upcoming changes to household waste collection services commencing in July 2026.

Under the new system, residents will receive a larger FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) bin collected weekly, while standard red rubbish bins will only be emptied once every fortnight.

While we support environmentally responsible initiatives and practical sustainability measures, many residents believe this system does not reflect the actual needs of our community.

Across Wellington Shire, many households already compost food scraps and manage green waste independently. However, general household rubbish — including nappies, sanitary products, pet waste, packaging, and medical waste — continues to accumulate weekly.

Reducing red bin collection to fortnightly raises serious concerns about:

- Public health and hygiene
- Odours during warmer weather
- Maggots, flies, insects, and vermin
- Overflowing bins and illegal dumping
- Impacts on larger families, carers, elderly residents, renters, and people with medical needs
- Lack of flexibility for households with different waste requirements

Many residents also feel there has been insufficient community consultation before implementing such a significant change.

We are calling on Wellington Shire Council to:

1. Maintain weekly red bin collection services;
2. Review the rollout of the current FOGO system;
3. Conduct broader consultation with residents before proceeding further; and
4. Offer flexible waste collection options that better suit different households and communities across the shire.

This petition is not against sustainability. It is about ensuring waste services remain practical, hygienic, and appropriate for the people who fund and rely on them.

We urge Wellington Shire Council to listen to its community and reconsider these changes before they create avoidable health and sanitation issues across the region.

Sign this petition to support practical waste solutions for Wellington Shire.