Campus Food Waste Tracking

The University of Newcastle measures food and organic waste collected from participating campus dining locations through a recurring collection programme. Organic food collection bins capture food scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, and certified compostable packaging. Under the established collection programme, these materials are sent for specialist processing by EarthPower Technologies, where anaerobic digestion can convert organic material into nutrient-rich fertiliser and energy.

2025 food and organic waste measurement

In 2025, the University diverted a total of 41.24 metric tonnes of food and organic waste from landfill across all campuses—a significant contribution to reducing methane emissions and supporting circular economy practices.

The 41.24-tonne figure records the combined food and organic material diverted through the collection programme at participating locations. The collected stream includes compostable packaging as well as food waste, so it is a measure of that mixed stream rather than a food-only total for all University catering.

The University’s 2025 Annual Report provides additional operational evidence: in 2025, Edwards Hall diverted 12.84 tonnes of organic waste from landfill. It also records that a new waste-services contract commenced in November 2025, supported by a dedicated Resource Recovery Officer. The University reported that food-organics collection expanded during the year, with further Student Living expansion planned for 2026.

How food waste is collected and tracked

The University’s programme captures discarded food and other eligible organics from participating dining locations, including residential dining facilities and food and beverage outlets. Food scraps, including meat and bones, coffee grounds and tea bags can be separated into organics bins alongside products certified as compostable. The University’s records of collected material provide a recurring measure of the organics stream and support monitoring of waste diversion.

The locations of organics recycling bins are available via the interactive campus map, making it easy for students, staff, and visitors to participate in the program.

Food waste recovery and longer-term tracking

Organic collections began as a University programme in late 2019, diverting food waste and compostable packaging from the dining hall and other campus food outlets for processing into fertiliser and green electricity.

^{Organic food waste diverted from landfill, 2021–2025 (original University chart; includes eligible organics).}

Turning collected organics into useful resources

Using anaerobic digestion technology, EarthPower Technologies processes collected organic material to produce biogas and a nutrient-rich fertiliser by-product.

The compost bins can also recycle compostable packaging and utensils as registered under the Australian Standard for Compostability (Australia: AS4736). This could include items made from sugarcane, bamboo, paper or wood.

Through monitored organics collection and improvements to waste services, the University is strengthening its understanding of food waste from campus dining and catering. This work supports resource recovery and more comprehensive measurement.