New South Wales is leading the charge on food waste reduction with a statewide mandate for Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) recycling. The goal? To keep food scrap out of landfill and divert them to more sustainable uses.
Under this legislation, businesses and institutions will be required to adopt FOGO collection by July 2026, with households joining the effort by 2030.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will oversee the transition, partnering with local councils, industries, and communities to ensure a seamless rollout.
The new FOGO laws place New South Wales at the forefront of the nation’s fight against food waste, making it the first state to mandate such a sweeping recycling initiative.
FOGO bins will be rolled out across a range of establishments – from supermarkets and pubs to universities, schools, hotels, and hospitals. Large supermarkets will also have to report on the amount and types of surplus food donated to charities like OzHarvest, SecondBite, and Foodbank.
Why the Government is Tackling Food Waste Head-On
The NSW Government has committed to halving organic waste sent to landfill by 2030, as part of its Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041. This is in line with Australia’s broader ambition to achieve net zero emissions.
Greater Sydney is fast running out of space to manage its ‘residual’ (red bin) waste, with landfill capacity expected to hit its limit by 2030 or earlier. Food businesses alone send 500,000 tonnes of organic waste to landfill every year, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
But there’s good news: the new FOGO laws are expected to divert nearly 950,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year, transforming it into valuable resources like compost for agriculture and landscaping. Every tonne of organic waste diverted saves approximately 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ emissions – a win for the environment and the economy.
Local councils will be responsible for enforcing compliance from businesses such as restaurants, pubs, food courts, and nursing homes. The EPA will oversee government-run facilities, including hospitals, correctional facilities, and schools. Large supermarkets will also have to comply, providing detailed reports on the surplus food they donate.
Failure to comply can result in hefty penalties: councils and businesses face fines of up to $500,000, plus an additional $50,000 for each day the offence continues.
To support the transition, the NSW Government will offer funding for education and implementation, with further details on financial support expected to be released soon.
Get Involved
Mecbio is proud to have already delivered successful FOGO projects in the region. If you’re a council or recycling facility keen to get on board with this innovative and environmentally responsible initiative, we invite you to explore our FOGO recycling solutions. Let’s work together to make food waste a thing of the past!
To know more about our projects, check our references.
For more information, visit the NSW EPA website.