We have been collecting food waste in the Hunter since the early days of Feedback Organic. Feedback Organic began on a farm in the Barrington Tops in 2013 and then ran urban farms in Newcastle, and the Hunter is still part of how we work. Since June 2021 we have collected 89 tonnes of food waste from Hunter businesses. This post explains what a commercial food waste collection looks like here.
What the service includes
Each site gets the same starter kit and the same weekly routine:
- A kitchen caddy
- Certified compostable liners (AS 4736)
- Signage for the kitchen
- A 120L bin, collected weekly on a fixed day
The caddy sits in the kitchen and empties into the bin out the back. Our collection partner runs the trucks. We run the service: setting it up, answering your questions and billing you.
What it costs
The price is $45 a bin a week, ex GST, plus a fuel levy of 9.93% shown as its own line. Each weekly lift covers up to 20kg, and above that it is 44c per kg. Billing is monthly by default and annual is available on request. There is a contract, and you can cancel with notice. The same price applies in Sydney and the Hunter.
What goes in the bin
Food goes in: peels, coffee grounds, food left on plates, bread, dairy, and meat and bones. Packaging, plastic, glass, cans and any liner that is not certified compostable stay out. A short briefing for staff on day one covers most of it, and the signage does the rest.
How the NSW rules apply in the Hunter
The NSW food waste rules apply across the state, so the same thresholds apply in Newcastle as in Sydney. They are based on the total size of your general waste bins in a week:
- From 1 July 2026: 3,960L
- From 1 July 2028: 1,980L
- From 1 July 2030: 720L
Whether your site is covered also depends on the type of premises. We explain how to count your bins on our NSW food waste rules page and in our post on what the NSW business food waste rules mean. The source is the NSW EPA. This is general information, not legal advice.
What changes day to day
Very little. Food waste goes into the caddy instead of the general waste bin, and the caddy empties into the 120L bin at the end of the day. Your general waste bin gets lighter, and your team gets used to the routine within a few shifts.
If you want help getting the team on board, we also run workshops on food waste, compost and growing, in Sydney and the Hunter. They are for anyone, and they are a good way to show a team where the food waste ends up. See the workshops page for details.
Is your address on a route?
We collect food waste across Newcastle and the Hunter, but not every address is on a route. Send us your address and we will tell you whether we can collect, and which day. If we cannot yet, we will say so plainly.
Where the food waste goes
Food waste is composted, and the compost goes back into growing food. We explain each step in how food waste becomes food.
Starting a collection
You can read the full detail, including the questions people ask most, on our weekly food waste collection page. When you are ready, tell us about your site, and we will reply within two business days.
Prices and rules checked 10 October 2026. 89 tonnes is food waste collected from Hunter businesses, June 2021 to August 2026.