For Lee James at Cranky Cafe, Merimbula, the move to increased recycling hasn't just been about being a good citizen, it's also about saving money.
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"I have reduced my rubbish costs by 70 per cent," Lee said.
"We used to throw everything away. We had two big skips around the back but I started to think we need to do this better," she said.
Urged on by staff member and keen recycler Trish Lavender, Lee started investigating how the cafe could get involved in the commercial FOGO (Food and Garden Organics) trial which at that time was only taking place in Bermagui.
The cafe has also been singled out for special praise by the Social Justice Advocates who are promoting a plastic-free July with many shops involved in Pambula.
"Sometimes when you're so involved in your business it's hard to see the wood for the trees," Lee said.
But 12 months on and the cafe is getting known as the place where the FOGO bin has a prominent position.
I have reduced my rubbish costs by 70 per cent.
- Lee James, Cranky Cafe
The FOGO bin take food leftovers, pizza boxes which have food scraps in them and can't go in the yellow bin and all the FOGO-friendly coffee cups, lids, serviettes, takeaway bags and boxes that Cranky Cafe has chosen to use.
The coffee cups are stocked by packaging and hospitality company McCoys at Pambula and now some coffee companies are ensuring that they only supply FOGO-friendly takeaway coffee cups to their cafes.
For Cranky Cafe the change has been huge. They have eliminated single use plastics and are reducing the amount going to landfill.
They only use compostable packaging, cultery and coffee cups for all takeaway food and drink and encourage people to bring their own keep cups. Plastic coated milk cartons are being re-used as coffee trays for multiple takeaways.
"We had a large red skip which during peak summer times was getting collected two or three times a week. Now we have a smaller red skip which is collected once a month because so much goes into the FOGO bin," Lee said.
Commercial FOGO bins - 240 litres or 140 litres - are available from council. The cost is 140 litre bin - $74.63 per year and 240 litre $88.27 per year. A 240 litre red landfill bin is $218.12 per year. It's possible to change your bins online at Bega Valley Shire Council's website.
