The City of Sydney has plans to expand its food waste reduction scheme in partnership with circular economy solutions company, Goterra. Since January, the New South Wales-first council trial has turned food waste from inner Sydney into around 19,000 kilograms of fertiliser and 6000 kilograms of protein-rich animal feed.
Food scraps will be fed to black soldier fly larvae housed inside shipping container-sized units, which can eat twice their own body weight every day. Their manure will be processed into fertiliser, and the maggots are processed into protein, rich in vitamins and minerals, that can be fed to fish and poultry or turned into pet food.
This system diverts food scraps from landfill, preventing the harmful methane emissions released during decay.
Source: City of Sydney
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said Sydney’s landfill space is running out fast, making sustainable waste projects vital.
“Not only does this trial mean we can avoid sending food scraps to landfill, we’ve created a circular economy solution by generating valuable products such as fertiliser and animal protein that can be used to produce more food,” said Moore.
“Working with food waste innovators Goterra, we’ve established a processing facility in Alexandria. Waste is processed closer to where it’s collected, which cuts down on fuel costs and emissions. It’s an approach that is net positive, removing more carbon emissions from the environment than it generates.”
The City of Sydney announced in June last year it had partnered with Goterra to trial the use of fly larvae to consume food scraps from residents in the area. The insects have already eaten through almost 90 tonnes of discarded food scraps since then.
Goterra founder and CEO, Olympia Yarger, said the Alexandria site is the company’s 7th official location.
“As another first in the world asset, this trial is focused on solving residential food organic waste in cities,” said Yarger.
"This is a bold step forward in waste-to-value management, transforming everyday food waste from across the city into valuable inputs for agriculture.
“In partnership with the City of Sydney and Bingo, we're at the forefront of circular innovation and are preparing for the FOGO Recycling Bill, which mandates diversion of residential food waste from landfill from July 2030. The future of zero food waste to landfill is coming and we’re proud to be leading the way.”
Goterra’s system is already being implemented by Woolworths, with trials running since 2020, and a dedicated installation at the company’s Wetherill Park facility. Goterra has also collaborated with End Food Waste Australia, formerly the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, with research at the University of Queensland.
More than 22,500 households are currently involved in the City of Sydney recycling service, which is expected to generate up to 600 tonnes of food scraps in 12 months. The council is also accepting expressions of interest from apartment buildings that wish to join the program.
