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NSW Government introduces food waste mandate

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01 Mar, 2025

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

With landfill said to reach capacity in Greater Sydney by 2030, the NSW Government has passed legislation to become the first state to implement a statewide mandate for food organics and garden organics (FOGO) recycling, diverting food waste from landfill into compost.

The legislation mandates FOGO collection services for households by July 2030, and for businesses and institutions in stages from July 2026.

“NSW has ignored the crisis for landfill capacity for too long. We cannot kick this can down the road any longer,” said Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe. “The new FOGO laws mean NSW is leading the nation in combating food waste, becoming the first to mandate this recycling revolution across the state.”

FOGO bins will be rolled out at premises such as supermarkets, pubs, cafes, universities, schools, hotels and hospitals. Large supermarkets will also be required to report on the amounts and types of surplus food donated to charities like OzHarvest, Second Bite and Foodbank.

With FOGO taking up to a third of household red bin capacity, this legislation may help take some pressure off landfill. The new laws are projected to divert up to one million tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year, with most to be transformed into high-quality compost for parks, sporting fields and agriculture, promoting healthier soils and sustainable food production.

With the introduction of this mandate, the government plans to take the state one step closer to a circular economy, where resources are recycled, reused and repurposed.

“The mandate is a good step in the right direction, and it comes after the federal government abandoned its initial target for food organic waste collection, changing it from 2023 to 2030,” said Dr Bhavna Middha, Senior Research Fellow, College of Design and Social Context at RMIT University.

The new laws are backed by a $81 million FOGO Fund to go largely to councils for infrastructure including bins, kitchen caddies and liners, contamination audits, community education programs and staffing, including a $9 million boost in funding allocated to:

  • $4 million to support implementation in apartments and multi-unit dwellings
  • $3 million for a statewide advertising campaign to raise awareness and encourage behaviour change
  • $1 million for councils with existing FOGO services to conduct annual ‘booster’ education campaigns
  • $1 million for a pilot to tackle contamination hotspots using artificial intelligence.
     

“The NSW Government doesn’t allow any biodegradable, compostable or bioplastics in food waste or FOGO bins, but fibre-based (paper or newspaper) or compostable plastic kitchen caddy liners that comply with the Australian standard for commercial composting are allowed in kitchen caddies,” Middha said.

“This makes it easier for households to collect and dispose of their food waste into FOGO bins. This also reduces the contamination in food waste as excessive biodegradable products were impacting the safe application of the compost.”

The NSW Environment Protection Authority is working closely with communities, councils and industry to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

A step-by-step Best Practice Guide has also been launched to help councils introduce FOGO and manage contamination risks.

Image credit: iStock.com/ruizluquepaz

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Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

14 May, 2025

World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched the Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework, presented at the WorldGBC hosted accelerator session, ‘Retrofitting buildings: Lessons from a global network’, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF2025), a global event dedicated to the circular economy.

Developed by WorldGBC’s APN of 17 Green Building Councils (GBCs) as well as knowledge partners, the framework is a practical roadmap aimed at policymakers and businesses across the region to assess their circularity readiness and identify strategic priorities for action to decarbonise their building stock on both a national and regional scale.

The framework can be used as a tool to quantify the business case for circular, sustainable principles in the built environment, and support businesses and governments to reduce waste, conserve resources and lower carbon emissions. It shows the industry the practical steps it can take now towards circularity, based on its current capabilities. It sets out clear assessment criteria, specific readiness indicators and actionable guidance based on five interconnected elements:

Government leadership: Policies and regulations driving circularity at all levels.
Technical solutions: Innovative approaches enabling resource efficiency and circular material flows.
Data: Measurement systems tracking resource use and circularity progress.
Finance: Funding mechanisms supporting circular business models and infrastructure.
Mindset: Cultural shifts prioritising resource conservation and sustainable consumption.
 

The Framework further supports WorldGBC’s 2025–2027 strategic plan, which outlines the vision for a sustainable built environment, guided by global 2030 decarbonisation goals.

Joy Gai, Head of Asia Pacific Network, WorldGBC said, “The framework has been developed by sustainability experts from the Asia–Pacific, one of the most diverse regions in the world, which is defined by remarkable complexities of culture, building stocks and environmental conditions. Our network recognises that harnessing diversity is fundamental to shaping a more resilient, resource-efficient future — but we need a guide to show us how to put our ambition into action. That is why we developed the APN Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework.

“WorldGBC is proud to join our Green Building Councils and partners in launching this timely resource. It creates a common language to guide businesses through collaboration, identifying their needs and applying circular methods which support our shared vision for a sustainable and regenerative future for Asia–Pacific and beyond.”

Jeff Oatman, chair of the Asia Pacific Regional network, Head of Collaboration and membership at Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), added, “The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework is a timely and much-needed initiative to accelerate the transition to a more regenerative and resource-efficient built environment across our region. By offering a clear pathway for assessing readiness and driving action, it empowers governments, industry and communities to make smarter, more sustainable decisions around circularity. I’m proud to be part of this collaboration and to contribute to a tool that not only fosters innovation but also supports practical outcomes that matter for people and the planet.”

Takuji Kohama, Chief Representative, AGC Group for Asia Pacific, also commented, “A resilient built environment relies on understanding ecological interconnections and making a conscious shift from linear consumption to cyclical resource stewardship. Designing buildings and infrastructures with their lifecycle in mind maximises material efficiency and minimises waste through a holistic approach from resource sourcing to end-of-life. Prioritising design for disassembly, material recovery, reuse and repurpose transforms buildings into dynamic material banks, significantly reducing construction’s environmental impact and fostering economic and environmental sustainability.

“Participating in the formulation of Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework offers a practical path to sustainable growth in our resource-constrained and climate-challenged region. This framework empowers built environment stakeholders to adopt a regenerative, resilient mindset focused on long-term value creation, redefining design, construction and living beyond waste minimisation. We aim to catalyse greater collaboration, innovation and systemic change, positioning AGC as a regional leader in circular economy practices and a model for urban sustainability.”

GBCs will use the framework to assess their own readiness to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the built environment, as well as supporting the Asia–Pacific market. To find out more, head to the Green Building Council of Australia website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Benjamas Deekam

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