FOGO at Northern Tasmanian Events
In January 2023, the City of Launceston temporarily paused accepting compostable packaging from local events at our Organic Processing Facility. We're currently awaiting the implementation of revised national standards for compostable packaging to ensure compatibility with our facilities.
In recent years, many local events organisers in Northern Tasmania have embraced compostable packaging for the sale of food items at events.
Used compostable packaging has subsequently been collected from those events and processed through the City of Launceston's FOGO collection service. However, recent scientific studies have indicated many forms of compostable packaging on the international market contain per- or poly-fluorinated alkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. The majority of materials contained in this packaging will physically degrade, but the added PFAS does not. PFAS is environmentally persistent and can contaminate water, soil and wildlife.
The City of Launceston has taken the precautionary measure of suspending the processing of compostable packaging from Northern Tasmanian events until new national guidelines are introduced.