FOGO Bags for Australia: Certified Compostable Caddy Liners
Certified compostable caddy and organics liners for Australian councils, distributors, waste contractors and commercial FOGO programs.
AS 4736-certified options are available for applicable finished-product configurations, with bulk supply, custom sizes, printing and project-specific packaging for B2B projects.
Local council, contractor and receiving-facility requirements should be confirmed before final product approval.
What Are FOGO Bags?
FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics.
FOGO bags are compostable liners used in some organics collection programs to help households and businesses collect food scraps before transferring them into an approved FOGO or food-organics system.
Typical applications include:
- kitchen caddy liners
- household food-waste liners
- commercial organics liners
- council FOGO rollout programs
- waste-contractor supply
- distributor and private-label programs
However, there is no single FOGO liner specification that applies across every Australian council or composting program.
The correct bag should be selected according to the local program, required certification, liner size, color, printing and receiving composting facility.
In practical procurement, most FOGO bag projects begin with the kitchen caddy or food-waste collection system, the required compostability certification, and the rules of the council or receiving organics facility.
Where a program permits compostable plastic kitchen caddy liners, buyers should confirm whether AS 4736 commercial-compostability certification is required for the finished liner.
Check Local FOGO Program Acceptance First
Certification is important, but certification alone does not guarantee that a liner will be accepted by every FOGO program.
Before sourcing FOGO bags, confirm:
- Local Council / Processor
- Accepted Liner Type
- Required Certification
- Caddy or Bin Size
- Color Requirement
- Certification Mark
Printing - Packing Format
- Final Specification
Different councils can apply different rules.
For example:
- some programs specify commercially compostable kitchen caddy liners
- some require lime-green liners
- some specify an approved certification mark
- some prefer unlined caddies or paper liners
- some only accept liners supplied or approved by the local council
For council, distributor or waste-contractor projects, local program requirements should therefore be confirmed before artwork or mass production.
Certification & FOGO Program Acceptance
AS 4736 and AS 5810 are different Australian compostability standards and should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Standard / Requirement | What It Means | FOGO Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| AS 4736 | Commercial / industrial compostability | Commonly relevant where certified compostable kitchen caddy liners are permitted in FOGO programs |
| AS 5810 | Home compostability | A separate home-composting standard; it does not by itself establish acceptance in a kerbside FOGO program |
| Council / Processor Rules | Local collection and end-of-life requirements | Determine whether the specific liner is accepted in the target program |
Certification and FOGO acceptance are two separate checks.
Certification provides evidence that an applicable finished-product configuration has been assessed against a defined compostability standard.
FOGO acceptance depends on the requirements of the council, waste contractor and receiving organics facility.
A certified product should therefore not be assumed to be accepted by every Australian FOGO program.
For projects using compostable plastic kitchen caddy liners, buyers should confirm:
- the certification required by the target program
- whether the finished liner falls within the applicable certification scope
- permitted certification-mark usage
- liner size and construction
- local council or processor acceptance
FOGO Bag Types & Typical Applications
FOGO programs can require different liner formats depending on how food waste is collected.
| FOGO Bag Type | Typical Application | Main Procurement Check |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen caddy liners | Household food-scrap collection | Caddy fit, required certification and council acceptance |
| Commercial organics liners | Kitchens, food-service sites and indoor organics collection | Waste load, liner size and processor acceptance |
| Council rollout liners | Household FOGO programs | Bags per roll, color, artwork, certification and annual volume |
| Custom FOGO liners | Councils, contractors and distributors | Full specification, certification scope and receiving-program requirements |
Approval of one liner type should not be assumed to apply to every bag size or collection application within the same organics program.
For detailed 8L–240L liner sizes, dimensions, bin fit and specification guidance, see our dedicated FOGO bin liner guide.
FOGO Caddy Liners for Council Programs
Kitchen caddy liners are one of the most common compostable bag applications in Australian FOGO programs.
For a council or household rollout, buyers should confirm the actual caddy dimensions rather than ordering only by nominal litre capacity.
Typical procurement details include:
- caddy capacity
- liner width
- liner length
- bag thickness
- bags per roll
- rolls per household
- liner color
- certification requirement
- certification mark
- council logo or printed instructions
- carton quantity
- annual household demand
Common kitchen caddies are in the approximately 7L–10L range, but dimensions vary between programs.
The liner should fit the actual caddy without excessive material while still allowing residents to remove and transfer food scraps easily.
For long-term council programs, the annual liner requirement should be calculated from:
Number of Households
× Rolls per Household
× Bags per Roll
= Annual Liner Quantity
This is more useful for tender planning than specifying only a one-time order quantity.
Why Are Many FOGO Caddy Liners Green?
Green or lime-green liners are used by some councils to help residents and waste operators distinguish approved compostable liners from conventional plastic bags.
For example, some local programs require liners to be:
- clearly labelled compostable
- lime green or another specified color
- marked with an approved compostability certification logo
However, green is not a universal national FOGO requirement.
Color and artwork should be confirmed with the council, waste contractor or receiving program before manufacturing.
For custom projects, liner color can be specified together with printing and packaging requirements.
What Should Be Included in a FOGO Liner Tender?
A good FOGO liner tender should define more than the words “compostable bag.”
The more precise the specification, the easier it is for suppliers to quote the same product and for buyers to compare offers.
| Tender Item | Information to Specify |
|---|---|
| Application | Kitchen caddy / food waste / commercial organics |
| Caddy or bin size | Actual dimensions or volume |
| Bag dimensions | Width × length |
| Thickness | Project requirement |
| Certification | Applicable certification required by the target FOGO program; commonly AS 4736 where certified commercial-compostable kitchen caddy liners are permitted |
| Color | Lime green / green / custom |
| Printing | Council logo, sorting instructions or unprinted |
| Bags per roll | Project-specific |
| Rolls per household | Where applicable |
| Core | Core / coreless |
| Packaging | Bulk carton / retail pack / distribution pack |
| Annual volume | Estimated total requirement |
| Delivery schedule | One-time rollout / recurring delivery |
| Documentation | Certification and product-specification records |
For large tenders, buyers should also define acceptable manufacturing tolerances and repeat-order controls.
FOGO Starter Kits & Household Rollouts
Council FOGO programs often distribute kitchen caddies and liners as part of a household rollout.
A typical rollout may involve:
Kitchen Caddy
- Compostable Liner Roll
- Sorting Instructions
- Household Distribution Packaging
For projects where ORIZON supplies the liner component, the bag specification and packaging can be developed around the council’s rollout plan.
Possible liner-related customizations include:
- bags per roll
- number of rolls per household
- roll label
- council logo
- printed sorting instructions
- liner color
- outer packaging
- carton configuration
The final certification-mark usage and artwork should be confirmed before printing.
For repeat programs, it is useful to maintain one approved master specification for future production.
Who Buys FOGO Compostable Bags?
Importers & Distributors
Australian distributors may require bulk cartons, multiple liner sizes, private-label packaging and repeat-order supply.
Councils
Typical requirements include kitchen caddy liners, household rollout quantities, recurring supply and tender documentation.
Waste Contractors
Contractors may require approved liners for food-waste programs across multiple sites or council contracts.
Hospitality & Food-Service Groups
Commercial kitchens, venues and institutions may use compostable liners where the receiving food-organics program permits them.
Private-Label Brands
Retail caddy liners can be developed with custom colors, printing, roll counts and packaging, subject to certification and trademark requirements.
Bulk, OEM & Contract Supply
FOGO projects are often different from ordinary retail bag orders.
Council and contractor programs may require:
- annual volume forecasting
- scheduled deliveries
- multiple liner sizes
- custom colors
- custom printing
- project-specific roll counts
- carton and pallet planning
- certification documentation
- tender samples
- repeat-order specifications
ORIZON supports OEM and bulk compostable bag manufacturing for B2B projects.
Standard custom production typically starts from approximately 500 kg per specification or design. The equivalent number of finished bags or rolls varies according to liner dimensions, thickness and roll configuration. Project-specific trial quantities may differ.
Available customization can include:
- liner dimensions
- thickness
- color
- one- or multi-color printing
- bags per roll
- paper core or coreless formats
- labels
- retail or bulk packaging
- outer cartons
- palletized export packing
For projects involving certification marks or private-label branding, certification scope and trademark authorization should be checked before final artwork approval.
FOGO Bag Specification Checklist
Before requesting a quotation, prepare the following information where possible:
- Application — kitchen caddy, commercial food waste or other use
- Bag width × length
- Required thickness
- Caddy or bin dimensions
- Bags per roll
- Number of rolls required
- Bag color
- Printing requirement
- Required certification and finished-product certification scope
- Target council / contractor / end-of-life program
- Packaging format
- Estimated annual quantity
If the final size has not yet been determined, provide the caddy or bin dimensions so that a liner size can be reviewed.
FAQ About FOGO Bags
There is no single liner rule that applies to every FOGO program in Australia.
Some councils permit certified compostable kitchen caddy liners, while others may specify particular certifications, colors, logos or council-supplied liners.
Always confirm the requirements of the local council or receiving composting program before selecting a bag.
AS4736 commercial-compostability certification is commonly specified for Australian FOGO kitchen caddy liners.
For example, NSW EPA permits compostable plastic kitchen caddy liners that comply with AS 4736-2006 in FO and FOGO services.
However, requirements differ by council and processor, so the target program should always be checked before procurement.
For more information, see our AS4736 compostable bags guide.
No. AS 5810 is a home-compostability standard and does not by itself establish acceptance in a kerbside FOGO program. Buyers should confirm the required certification directly with the relevant council, waste contractor or receiving facility. Where a FOGO program specifically requires commercial-compostable kitchen caddy liners, AS 4736 may be the applicable standard.
Some councils use lime green as a visual identification system to distinguish approved compostable caddy liners from conventional plastic bags.
However, the required color varies by program.
Always confirm the liner color and certification-mark requirements before approving custom production.
The liner should be selected according to the actual caddy dimensions rather than nominal litre capacity alone.
For council projects, provide the caddy width, depth and height together with the required bag count per roll.
This allows the finished liner dimensions and annual volume to be planned more accurately.
Yes.
FOGO liner projects can be manufactured with custom sizes, colors, printing, roll counts, labels and packaging.
For certification logos or private-label projects, trademark and certification requirements should be confirmed before artwork and mass production.
Need FOGO Bags for a Council, Distributor or Waste Program?
Send us your bag size, certification requirement, printing needs and estimated quantity.
We can review your specification and provide a B2B quotation for council, distributor or waste-program projects.
Please confirm local council or processor acceptance before finalizing the liner specification.
