FOGO service start delayed
Rotorua Lakes Council’s planned Food and Garden Organics (FOGO) kerbside collection service will no longer start on 1 July 2026 as planned, due to ongoing global supply issues.
The delay is related to difficulties getting some of the materials needed to make the bins, including parts that come from overseas.
As a result, a new start date for the FOGO service has not yet been confirmed. We know this change may be disappointing for people who were expecting the service to begin in July, and Council will provide updates as soon as supply and manufacturing arrangements are clearer.
Council remains committed to introducing the FOGO service and is working closely with its waste contractor to look at alternative options, including different ways to manufacture the bins and revised timelines. These options are being carefully considered to ensure value for money and the best outcome for the community.
For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions below.
What has happened?
Global supply chain disruptions have affected the manufacture and supply of the required 80‑litre food and green organics bins. Although the bins are manufactured in New Zealand, a specialist resin sourced overseas is currently in limited supply due to conflict in the Middle East, contributing to the delay in the planned start of the FOGO kerbside service.
When will the FOGO service start now?
A new start date hasn’t been confirmed yet. Council is working closely with its waste contractor to look at alternative options and timeframes, and will provide an update once more information is available.
When can we expect an update and where can we find it?
Updates will be shared through Council’s usual communication channels (Facebook, e-pānui, news webpage, customer centre) as more information becomes available.
Will Council take this time to reconsider introducing the service or consider keeping red-lid bin collection weekly?
No decisions have been made to cancel the service. Council remains committed to introducing FOGO and is assessing options to enable delivery.
Could this delay affect the cost of the service?
Council is currently reviewing potential cost implications as part of its contractual and commercial processes. If there are any significant changes, these will be communicated through normal Council processes.
Will my rubbish collection remain weekly until FOGO is implemented?
All existing kerbside waste and recycling services will continue as normal. Weekly rubbish collection will continue unchanged until the FOGO service is introduced.
More detail
The bins are manufactured using a specialist High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which is currently in limited supply due to global oil supply chain constraints. The delay relates to materials needed to manufacture the bins here in New Zealand, rather than finished components in transit.
The bins were intended to be supplied by SULO New Zealand, with the supply process managed through Council’s waste collection contractor, Smart Environmental. No bins have been able to be produced to date. Delivery to households was expected from May; however, Council was formally advised on 30 March that the timeline was at risk due to oil supply constraints as a result of conflict in the Middle East.
Alongside our contractor, we have been working to address and where possible mitigate this risk. On 23 April, Council was advised the shortage would impact the bin supply for the Rotorua Lakes Council FOGO service. Council is now assessing together with our contractor possible alternative options, including other suppliers and revised timeframes, which will be carefully considered to ensure value for money and the best outcome for the community. An update will be provided once this work is complete.
This disruption is driven by global supply disruption factors outside Council’s direct control. At the time contracts were agreed, supply chains were operating normally and no issues were or could be anticipated.
