From 1 July 2026, larger NSW businesses and institutions that sell or handle food must start separating food waste from general waste if they meet the first-stage weekly general waste capacity threshold.
According to the NSW EPA business food waste guidance, the new requirements apply in stages. The first stage applies to sites with weekly general waste capacity of 6 or more 660L bins, 16 or more 240L bins, or any combination equal to or more than 3,960L.
For food businesses, the real challenge is not only understanding the law. It is setting up the kitchen, staff workflow, bins and liners so food waste can actually be separated every day.
This is especially relevant for businesses looking for commercial compostable bin liners in NSW, FOGO bin liners for commercial kitchens, and practical kitchen liner support for NSW FOGO business compliance preparation.
View Our Bulk Compostable Bin Liners
NSW business food waste timeline
| Start Date | Weekly General Waste Capacity Threshold | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 | 6 or more 660L bins, 16 or more 240L bins, or 3,960L or more in total | Largest food waste generators need to source separate food waste |
| 1 July 2028 | 3 or more 660L bins, 8 or more 240L bins, or 1,980L or more in total | Medium-volume sites are brought into scope |
| 1 July 2030 | 1 or more 660L bin, 3 or more 240L bins, or 720L or more in total | Smaller sites are brought into scope |
These thresholds are based on weekly general waste bin capacity, not how full the bins are.
Official NSW EPA references
This guide is based on NSW EPA business food waste guidance, which outlines the staged food waste separation requirements for businesses and institutions that sell or handle food.
For liner acceptance, NSW EPA household FOGO guidance explains that compostable plastic kitchen caddy liners that comply with AS 4736-2006 can be used to collect and transfer food waste into FO or FOGO bins.
NSW EPA’s compostable plastics in green waste information also explains that AS 4736-2006 certified compostable kitchen caddy liners are the only compostable plastics permitted to enter the composting waste stream.
Because collection pathways can differ by council, waste contractor and organics processor, businesses should confirm accepted liner types before rollout.
Who may be affected?
The NSW EPA lists examples of businesses and institutions that sell or handle food, including supermarkets, cafés, schools and hotels.
In practice, the first stage is most likely to affect larger or high-volume sites, such as:
supermarkets
hotels
clubs
schools
commercial kitchens
food service sites
hospitality venues
catering operations
larger cafés and restaurants
sites with multiple general waste bins
If your business handles food and has high weekly general waste capacity, it is worth checking your bin volumes and reviewing the NSW EPA guidance.
Common business kitchen liner needs by industry
Different food businesses may need different liner setups depending on kitchen layout, food waste volume and collection points. A hotel kitchen, restaurant, club venue or central catering kitchen may not use the same liner size across every food waste area.
| Business Type | Common Food Waste Need | Suggested Compostar Sizes | How It Supports Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels and Accommodation Kitchens | hotel food waste bins, hotel kitchen FOGO liners, 120L and 240L compostable liners | 80L, 120L, 240L | Supports hotel kitchen food waste bins, back-of-house transfer and larger waste room collection points |
| Clubs, Venues and Entertainment Facilities | club kitchen FOGO, venue food waste separation, event food waste liners | 80L, 120L, 240L | Helps clubs and venues manage food waste across kitchens, events, bars, dining areas and waste rooms |
| Catering and Central Kitchens | catering kitchen food waste liners, central kitchen FOGO setup | 80L, 120L, 240L | Supports higher-volume food prep, wet kitchen waste, food waste transfer and central kitchen FOGO setup |
| Cafés, Restaurants and Food Courts | restaurant FOGO bin liners, restaurant FOGO bin liners Sydney, café compostable liners wholesale | 10L, 18L, 36L, 80L, 120L | Supports counter caddies, prep stations, restaurant kitchens, food court waste points and commercial food waste collection |
For NSW businesses, compostable liners support the kitchen-side setup for food waste separation, but collection rules and accepted materials should still be confirmed with the relevant council, waste contractor or organics processor.
View Our Bulk Compostable Bin Liners
The real issue is kitchen execution
Many businesses start by asking: “Do we need to comply?”
But the next question is more practical:
“How do we make food waste separation work inside the kitchen?”
A working food waste setup usually needs:
clearly placed food waste bins
staff instructions
correct bin sizes
regular emptying
liners that match food waste
larger wheelie bins or back-of-house transfer bins
a waste contractor or organics collection pathway
This is where commercial compostable bin liners become part of the execution system.
Why ordinary bin bags may not be enough
Food waste is wet, heavy and messy.
A standard liner may be acceptable for dry office waste, but commercial food waste creates more pressure. It can include:
coffee grounds
fruit and vegetable scraps
leftover meals
sauces
wet prep waste
seafood scraps
bones or shells
tea leaves
cooked food waste
If the liner is too weak or poorly matched to the bin, the result can be leakage, splitting, odour, bin juice and extra cleaning.
For NSW businesses preparing for food waste separation, choosing the right compostable food waste bin liners is part of reducing day-to-day operational problems.
Practical size map for NSW food waste separation
| Compostar Size | Suggested Business Area | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| 10L | Café counter, office kitchen, staff food waste caddy | Captures food scraps close to where they are generated |
| 18L | Café counter, office kitchen, staff food waste caddy | Captures food scraps close to where they are generated |
| 36L | Small food waste station, school canteen, café prep point | Supports shared food waste collection without using a large bin |
| 80L | Commercial kitchen back-of-house, prep area, hospitality bin | Supports FOGO bin liners for commercial kitchen wet food waste and busier back-of-house areas |
| 120L | Wheelie bin, FOGO bin, food waste transfer point | Supports AS 4736 certified 120L compostable bin liners for larger food waste movement from kitchen to collection area |
| 240L | Large wheelie bin, hotel, club, school, venue waste room | Supports 240L compostable bin liners for food waste, hotel kitchens, clubs, venues and larger collection points |
Not sure whether your site needs 80L, 120L or 240L liners?
For NSW businesses preparing for food waste separation, Compostar can help review your bin sizes, kitchen collection points and wheelie bin setup before you place a larger order.
Explore Wholesale Compostable Bin Liners
Check Your 120L / 240L Liner Setup
Ask for a Commercial Kitchen Size Map
Test data and setup observations
Compostar’s wholesale compostable film liner range is designed to support different points in the food waste separation process.
| Data Point | Compostar Specification / Observation | Business Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Smallest wholesale food waste liner | 10L and 18L, 20 micron | Suitable for caddies, café counters and small business food waste points |
| Small commercial liner option | 36L, 24 micron | Suitable for cafés, staff kitchens and small food waste stations |
| Heavy kitchen liner option | 80L, 26 micron | Better suited to wet food waste and back-of-house use |
| Wheelie bin liner option | 120L, 26 micron | Suitable for FOGO bins and transfer points |
| Large wheelie bin liner option | 240L, 26 micron | Designed for larger food waste collection and high-volume waste room use |
| Known Compostar wet-waste performance benchmark | 72-hour leak-resistant use case and 10kg static load benchmark on Compostar paper food waste bags | Shows Compostar’s focus on real food waste handling conditions |
Failure lesson: putting the bin in place is not enough
We tried looking at food waste separation as a simple bin placement problem.
The result was incomplete.
Placing a food waste bin in the kitchen helps, but it does not solve the whole system. If the liner is the wrong size, too thin, or not suitable for wet waste, staff may avoid using the bin or create more mess during transfer.
| Method Tried | Result | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Adding only one food waste bin | Simple first step | Staff still needed smaller collection points near prep areas |
| Using no liners in larger bins | Lower consumable cost | More bin cleaning, odour and bin juice |
| Using thin liners for wet scraps | Worked for light food waste | Higher risk of leaks and splitting with heavier scraps |
| Using the same liner size everywhere | Easier purchasing | Poor fit across caddies, kitchen bins and wheelie bins |
| Matching liner size to each food waste point | Better workflow and cleaner handling | Requires a basic size plan before rollout |
The lesson is that food waste separation needs a practical setup: the right bin, the right liner, the right location and the right staff routine.
View Our Bulk Compostable Bin Liners
80L compostable bin liners
80L compostable bin liners are useful for commercial kitchen areas where food waste volume is higher than a small caddy but does not yet require a full wheelie bin.
They may be suitable for:
- prep areas
- dishwashing areas
- back-of-house food waste
- café and restaurant kitchens
- medium food waste stations
- hospitality waste points
For businesses dealing with wet food waste, 80L heavy duty compostable bin liners can help reduce the risk of splitting and messy handling.
This makes 80L liners a practical option for commercial kitchen FOGO bin liner use, especially where food waste is wet, heavy or handled through back-of-house prep areas.
Explore 80L options: 80L Heavy Duty Compostable Wheelie Bin Liners
120L compostable wheelie bin liners
120L compostable bin liners are suitable for standard wheelie bin use and larger food waste transfer points.
For buyers searching for 120L compostable bin liners AS4736, the key is to check both certification and local acceptance before using liners in a specific FOGO or organics collection pathway.
They can support:
- commercial FOGO bins
- food waste transfer
- restaurant back-of-house bins
- café and food service sites
- schools and staff kitchens
- sites moving food waste from smaller caddies to larger bins
Explore: 120L Heavy Duty Compostable Wheelie Bin Liners
240L compostable bin liners
240L compostable bin liners are suitable for larger wheelie bins and high-volume food waste collection points.
They are especially relevant for businesses searching for 240L compostable bin liners for food waste, including hotel kitchens, clubs, venues, schools, strata waste rooms and larger commercial kitchens.
They may be useful for:
- hotels
- clubs
- schools
- venues
- large commercial kitchens
- strata waste rooms
- food service operations
- high-volume back-of-house areas
For businesses affected by the NSW staged requirements, 240L bins are also important because the EPA’s first-stage threshold includes 16 or more 240L bins as one way of measuring weekly general waste capacity.
Explore 240L options: Heavy Duty 240L compostable bin liners
From caddy liners to wheelie bin liners
A good commercial food waste setup often uses several sizes together.
| Food Waste Point | Suggested Compostar Size | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Countertop caddy | 10L, 18L | Coffee grounds, tea leaves, small prep scraps |
| Small food waste station | 36L | Café, office kitchen or school station |
| Back-of-house bin | 80L | Wet food scraps and heavier kitchen waste |
| Wheelie bin | 120L | Food waste transfer and FOGO collection |
| Large wheelie bin | 240L | Hotel, club, school or venue waste room |
This helps staff separate food waste where it is generated, instead of carrying loose scraps across the kitchen.
Are compostable liners accepted in NSW FOGO?
Acceptance depends on the local council, waste contractor and organics processor.
NSW EPA household FOGO guidance explains that compostable plastic kitchen caddy liners that comply with AS 4736-2006 can be used to collect and transfer food waste into FO or FOGO bins. NSW EPA’s compostable plastics in green waste information also states that AS 4736-2006 certified compostable kitchen caddy liners are the only compostable plastics permitted to enter the composting waste stream.
Compostar’s AS 4736 and AS 5810 certified compostable liners are designed to support recognised Australian compostability requirements. AS 4736 relates to commercial composting conditions, while AS 5810 relates to home composting conditions.
Businesses should always check whether certified compostable liners are accepted in their specific collection program before rollout.
A safe rule is:
Use certified compostable liners only where they are accepted by your council, waste contractor or organics processor.
Preparing your business
If your NSW business handles food, now is the time to review:
- your weekly general waste capacity
- where food waste is generated
- which bins need liners
- whether staff need clearer bin signage
- whether you need caddy liners, kitchen liners or wheelie bin liners
- whether your chosen liners are certified and accepted in your collection pathway
Compostar can help with the liner side of the setup.
Compostar does not replace council, waste contractor or organics processor advice. Businesses should confirm collection requirements, accepted liner types and processing pathways with the relevant local parties before full rollout.
Need help preparing your NSW business FOGO liner setup?
If your business is reviewing food waste separation, Compostar can help with the front-end kitchen liner setup before you commit to a larger wholesale order.
We can help you check 120L and 240L wheelie bin liner needs, review commercial kitchen collection points, suggest a simple size map and provide sample support for trial use.
Compostar supplies compostable food waste film liners from 10L to 240L for caddies, commercial kitchens, FOGO bins, wheelie bins and business food waste collection points.
Check Your 120L / 240L Liner Setup
Ask for a Commercial Kitchen Size Map
Send Us Your Bin Sizes for Setup Support
Summary
1. NSW business food waste rule
NSW business food waste separation starts in stages from 1 July 2026.
The first threshold is based on weekly general waste capacity of 3,960L or more.
This may include sites with 6 or more 660L bins or 16 or more 240L bins.
2. Compostar product role
Compostar supplies compostable food waste bin liners for business food waste separation.
The range covers 10L,18L, 36L, 80L, 120L and 240L.
Compostar supports caddies, commercial kitchens and wheelie bins.
3. Best product focus
10L, 18L liners are suitable for food waste caddies, café counters and small business food waste points.
36L liners are suitable for small food waste stations and staff kitchens.
80L liners are suitable for commercial kitchen food waste.
120L liners are suitable for wheelie bins and FOGO transfer.
240L liners are suitable for larger wheelie bins, hotels, clubs, schools and venues.
4. Compliance note
Compostar’s AS 4736 and AS 5810 certified compostable liners should be used where certified compostable liners are accepted.
Businesses should confirm acceptance with their council, waste contractor or organics processor.
5. Commercial kitchen use cases
Compostar supports commercial compostable bin liners in NSW for cafés, restaurants, hotels, clubs, venues, catering kitchens and commercial kitchens.
80L liners support FOGO bin liners for commercial kitchen wet food waste and back-of-house collection.
120L compostable bin liners support FOGO transfer points, wheelie bins and larger restaurant or commercial kitchen food waste movement.
240L compostable bin liners support larger food waste collection points, including hotel kitchens, venue waste rooms, clubs, schools and commercial FOGO transfer areas.
Compostar’s wholesale supply can support buyers searching for AS4736 compostable garbage bags wholesale, restaurant FOGO bin liners Sydney, hotel kitchen food waste bin liners and catering kitchen food waste liners.
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