NSW is phasing in a requirement for businesses and institutions to separate food waste from general waste. The requirement starts with the sites that put out the most general waste and reaches smaller ones over four years. This post sets out what the NSW EPA says, in plain language, and what to do about it. It is general information, not legal advice.
The short version
If your site is one of the premises the rules cover, and your general waste bins add up to more than a set weekly volume, you need a separate collection for food waste. The weekly volume drops in three steps:
- From 1 July 2026: 3,960L of general waste bin capacity a week. The EPA gives six 660L bins as an example.
- From 1 July 2028: 1,980L a week. The EPA gives three 660L bins as an example.
- From 1 July 2030: 720L a week, a single 660L bin, or three 240L bins.
The first step is already in force. The source for all of this is the NSW EPA page on the food organics mandates. Check it for the exact wording, because that page is the authority and this one is a summary.
Which premises are covered
The rules apply to supermarkets, to premises where food or drink is prepared or provided, and to certain institutions. The EPA lists the premises types in full, so read its list rather than relying on a summary. The volume test applies on top of that: a covered premises below the threshold is not yet required to separate food waste.
How to count your bins
You are counting the capacity of your general waste bins, not what you actually put out. The EPA describes the thresholds as residual bin capacity per week.
- List each general waste bin and its size in litres (a 240L wheelie bin is 240; a 660L bin is 660).
- Add the sizes together.
- Compare the total against 3,960, 1,980 and 720.
If some of your bins are emptied more than once a week, check the EPA page for how it counts them. Our NSW food waste rules page has a short version of this check.
A worked example
Say a site has three 660L general waste bins. That is 1,980L, which meets the 1,980L threshold that applies from July 2028 (and sits well above 720L for 2030). If the site is a covered premises, it would need a separate food waste collection by 1 July 2028.
A smaller site with three 240L bins has 720L, which meets the 2030 threshold. A site with two 240L bins has 480L, which is under all three for now.
What counts as food waste
For our collection, food waste means fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, food left on plates, bread, dairy, and meat and bones. Packaging, plastic, glass, cans and liners that are not certified compostable are not food waste, and they stay out of the food waste bin. The EPA has its own definition for the rules, so check it if you need to be exact.
Who checks
As we read the EPA guidance, local councils check compliance for most business premises, and the EPA checks government-run facilities. If you are unsure which applies to your site, ask your council or the EPA directly.
What to do about it
- Count your bins using the steps above, and note which date your site reaches.
- Talk to your building manager or landlord if you share bins, since they may arrange the general waste service.
- Set up a weekly food waste collection so food has its own bin.
- Put up signage and brief your team on what goes in the caddy and what stays out.
We collect food waste every week in Sydney and the Hunter. Our weekly food waste collection page sets out the kit, the price and how a week works. If you have a larger site or several sites, our advisory service can plan the program with you.
A note on sources
Different articles quote slightly different numbers, because they round or convert bin sizes in different ways. We have used the EPA litre figures. If you see another number, check the EPA page above.
Source: NSW EPA, FOGO mandates and rollout. Checked 10 October 2026.