With the NSW EPA’s Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) mandates set to roll out next year, North Sydney Council is offering a free three-part workshop series to help businesses.

To be held this month and next, ‘A Matter of Waste’ is designed to help cafes, restaurants and other small food venues reduce waste, cut costs, and boost their environmental impact ahead of the mandates starting in July 2026.

1.7 million tonnes of food is wasted in NSW each year, and food makes up approximately one third of food businesses’ waste, according to the National Food Waste Benchmark data.

North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker says hospitality businesses have an important role to play in addressing the problem.

“Reducing food waste will help businesses meet the new regulations and create a more sustainable and resilient hospitality sector,” she says.

“Council is proud to run these workshops, which will help local food businesses cut costs, support a healthy environment and prepare for the future.”

Hosted at The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability in Waverton, the workshops will be led by chef and sustainability educator Natalie Bolt, co-founder of The Table Food Consultants. She will guide participants through actionable strategies they can implement and stick to.

The three workshops are:

• Sustainability in Hospitality – Monday 18 August, 10am to 1pm
  Understand how sustainability can improve your margins and your impact.
• Waste Minimisation – Monday 1 September, 2pm to 5pm
  Learn how to audit, track and reduce waste with simple systems and creative reuse.
• Menu Engineering and Local Supply Chains – Monday 15 September, 10am to 1pm
  Discover how smart menu design and local sourcing can contribute to profits and resilience.

Bookings are essential. Visit northsydney.nsw.gov.au/CoalLoaderEvents to register.