NSW Parliament recently mandated FOGO collections across the state in a bid to reduce organic waste in landfill.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings region has been leading the way in food and garden waste recycling since 2001, with our green bin service helping to keep organic waste out of landfill. Now, the rest of NSW is catching up! The NSW Parliament has passed new legislation mandating FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) recycling across the state to reduce food waste and prevent organic materials from ending up in landfill.
What do the new FOGO rules mean?
The mandate sets clear requirements for households, businesses, and institutions:
- Households: By 1 July 2030, all NSW councils must provide a FOGO service to households that receive a red bin collection.
- Businesses & Institutions: From 1 July 2026, large food waste generators (like supermarkets and hospitality businesses) must have a food organics collection service. Smaller businesses will be phased in by 2030, based on the amount of waste they produce.
- Supermarkets: Large supermarkets must track and report food donations across six categories, such as fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy.
Why is FOGO being mandated?
Food and garden waste make up a significant portion of what ends up in landfill, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041, the NSW Government has committed to halving organic waste sent to landfill by 2030—aligning with Australia’s broader net zero commitment.
Research suggests that rolling out household FOGO collection across NSW could divert nearly 950,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year!
See the EPA website for more details on the mandates, including business requirements, exemptions, and penalties.
What happens to my FOGO waste?
In our region, food and garden waste is transported to the Organic Resource Recovery Facility (ORRF) at Cairncross where it is processed into high quality compost. The facility processes over 30,000 tonnes of organic material each year. Composted organics are a source of nutrients and ‘soil carbon’ and when applied to soils assist with holding moisture and making nutrients available to plants.
What goes in my FOGO bin?
- Food scraps (including meat, bones, seafood)
- Food scraps in cornstarch bags
- Food scraps wrapped in paper or newspaper
- Small, non-treated timber offcuts
- Garden clippings, twigs and small branches
- Grass clippings, weeds, flowers and leaves
- Palm fronds (cut to ensure bin closes).
What is no longer accepted:
- Tea bags
- Pizza boxes
- Shredded paper
- Tissues
- Newspaper
Unsure what goes in which bin? Find the full information here, or download the Waste Info for an A-Z list of common waste items.
