Check when your business needs to follow food waste rules
Find out when your NSW food business must separate food waste under new FOGO rules, how to check your requirements and what steps to take to comply.
When you need to do this
If you run a food business in NSW, you may need to separate food and garden organics (FOGO) from general waste starting 1 July 2026.
Food waste makes up around a quarter of business waste sent to landfill in NSW. By separating it, you can cut emissions, reduce pressure on landfill and support a circular economy.
What you need to do
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Check when the rules apply to you
The rules depend on how much general waste your business has capacity to produce each week.
- From 1 July 2026: 3,960L or more, for example 16 x 240L bins or 6 x 660L bins.
- From 1 July 2028: 1,980L or more, for example 8 x 240L bins.
- From 1 July 2030: 720L or more, for example 3 x 240L bins.
If you prepare, sell or handle food – such as a cafe, restaurant, supermarket, hotel or school – you may need to comply.
As a guide, you’re likely included in the first phase if you:
- fill about one 660L bin a day
- have multiple bins collected several times a week.
Use the EPA’s FOGO business mandate calculator to confirm your start date.
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Understand your waste
Use the EPA’s Bin Trim tool to see what you throw away and find ways to avoid, reduce and recycle waste.
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Separate food waste from general waste
Keep food waste free from packaging, plastics and other non-organic materials so it can be recycled. Set up a dedicated food organics collection service and talk to your waste service provider about:
- the right bin sizes
- how often collections should happen.
If you complete a Bin Trim assessment, you may be eligible for rebates to help pay for equipment to manage waste more effectively.
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Get support
Download practical tools, including signs for staff, to help set up your system.
