Food scraps recycling service

More than 21,000 households are currently taking part and we plan to roll out an offering to all residents.

The hands of a person scraping food scraps into a caddy bin.

Why it’s important

Food waste typically makes up one-third of our residents’ red lid rubbish bins.

By collecting and recycling food scraps separately, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste sent to landfill. We can also nourish our environment, with the scraps we collect converted into nutrient-rich compost.

Making food scraps recycling available to all our residents is one way we’re achieving our waste reduction goals.

What we’re doing

From trial success to sustainable journey

In July 2019, we began a successful trial involving the separate collection and recycling of food scraps from residential properties.

Since the end of the trial in October 2021, we’ve continued to collect and recycle food scraps. The service is currently available to over 21,000 households and we add new apartment buildings where possible.

Expanding food scraps recycling

We know how important food scraps recycling is to you and it’s just as important to us. We plan on extending food scraps recycling to all households.

This is in line with the state government’s requirement that a separate food and garden waste service be available to all NSW households by 2030.

Extending food scraps recycling is a complex project with factors we need to consider:

  • The unique make-up of our communities. Unlike most local government areas, about 80% of our residents live in apartments and don't have green lid bins. Other areas have more houses with gardens. Their residents can use their existing green lid bins for food scraps.
  • The best way to process a large amount of food scraps. There’s limited processing capacity in Sydney for food scraps. We need to work with government and industry to find a processor that can take all our community's food waste and turn it into beneficial products.
  • How to collect food scraps most efficiently. We need to minimise the environmental impact of a new collection service.

What happens to your scraps

Your food scraps are collected by our waste collection truck, taken to Veolia’s Banksmeadow transfer terminal and transported by rail to the Veolia Woodlawn eco precinct near Tarago. Here, your food scraps are processed into compost, which is used to condition the soil on the sheep and cattle farm that forms part of the Woodlawn eco precinct.

A large pile of brown compost created from food scraps with a vehicle next to it.
Nutrient-rich compost created from your food scraps, ready to be used as soil conditioner.

Don’t have the service? Other options for food scraps recycling

If your house or building isn’t participating in the service, you can still recycle your food scraps and play your part in reducing food sent to landfill.

Think about composting food scraps or setting up a worm farm. Check out our tips for composting. Bokashi bins are also a great alternative for those living in apartments.

You could also get involved in community-run food scraps recycling initiatives with groups like ShareWaste.

Avoiding food waste in the first place

You can avoid or reduce food waste by planning your meals, shopping wisely, being creative with leftovers, and storing food correctly.

Love Food Hate Waste and Cornersmith have partnered to create a free online series of video tutorials. Learn how to reduce food waste in your kitchen, including storage tips, dinner ideas, low-waste snack recipes and other helpful waste hacks.

KitchenHand is an online platform that helps you plan and manage food, save money and reduce food waste. You’ll find recipes, leftovers hacks, seasonal produce guides and a food tracker to help you use what you have.