From bins to behaviour change – delivering a successful Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) campaign

Delivering a successful Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) rollout goes beyond simply distributing information. It requires a structured and community focused approach that builds awareness, encourages behaviour change and supports long term adoption.

From our experience, local governments commonly face challenges around misinformation, accessibility of information and communicating FOGO requirements in a way that is clear, practical and easy for residents to understand. If not addressed early, these barriers can directly impact understanding, participation and overall program success.

Here are LKB’s key considerations when developing a recognisable, educational and inclusive FOGO campaign for local government.

Strong and consistent branding
Develop a distinctive visual identity that complements Council branding and remains consistent across all campaign materials. Recognisable visual cues, such as colours, icons and bin lid references, help improve awareness and make information easier for residents to identify and understand.

Clear, simple and actionable messaging
Use Plain English messaging and simple visuals to create communications that are easy to understand across all materials and channels. Technical information should be translated into practical, everyday language, supported by clear examples of what can and cannot go into FOGO bins. For LGAs with culturally diverse communities, translated materials should also be incorporated to improve accessibility and reach.

Boots on the ground engagement
Face-to-face engagement plays an important role in building awareness and encouraging participation. Interactive and visually engaging pop-up activations in prominent community locations help bring the campaign directly to residents through a more approachable, educational and family-friendly experience.

Engaging ambassador or mascot
A local ambassador or mascot can significantly increase campaign visibility and recognition, particularly when it reflects the identity and personality of the community. Having a recognisable face associated with the rollout helps create familiarity, improve approachability and reinforce campaign messaging across multiple touchpoints.

Sustainable and practical merchandise
Sustainable and practical campaign merchandise can help reinforce key messages while supporting behaviour adoption within the home. In our experience, effective FOGO resources have included compostable bin liners, informational stickers, fridge magnets and quick reference guides that provide residents with simple, ongoing reminders.

Is your organisation considering a FOGO rollout or education campaign? Open a conversation with our team today to find out how we can help deliver meaningful community engagement and long term behaviour change outcomes. You can also view our FOGO experience here.

Written by Ellen Pilkington

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