Feed people, not landfill

From 1 July 2026, New South Wales will take a significant step forward in tackling food waste. New legislation will require large supermarkets to track and report how much food they donate across categories such as fresh produce, meat, dairy and baked goods as part of a broader commitment to halve organic waste sent to landfill by 2030.

The intent is to incentivise the donation of usable food to avoid food waste.

This reform is an important step toward accountability and a more circular food economy. But it also exposes a critical gap: tracking food waste does not ensure it reaches the people who need it.

The need for action has never been clearer.

With one in three households across the Illawarra experiencing food insecurity, something is fundamentally broken in our food system. Across NSW, households and businesses send more than 1.2 million tonnes to landfill each year, contributing to increasing emissions while families in our community skip meals, stretch budgets and increasingly rely on food relief.

Imagine if we turned that equation around; if the food we currently waste was redirected to feed our families, friends and neighbours.

In the Illawarra, food relief agencies are working tirelessly to meet growing demand. But these organisations were never designed to be the backbone of our food system. Their core work lies in homelessness, mental health and community support. Food relief has become an added responsibility driven by necessity.

The issue is not a lack of goodwill. It is a lack of infrastructure.

Across the region, agencies are constrained by limited staff, a shortage of vehicles, and inadequate storage. Many operate out of small facilities with little or no cold storage, meaning that even when food is available, it cannot always be safely stored or distributed.

The result is a system where good food ends up in landfill while people go without.

What’s needed is a centralised food hub; a facility designed to receive large volumes of donated food, store it safely, and distribute it efficiently to frontline organisations. It is the missing link between surplus and need.\

A regional food hub would change that. It would reduce waste, strengthen food security, and relieve pressure on frontline agencies, allowing them to focus on supporting people rather than managing logistics.

The new NSW mandate makes this moment even more critical. As more food is diverted from landfill, we must ensure there is capacity to capture and redistribute it. Without that, we risk creating bottlenecks instead of solutions.

This is where government investment is essential. Regional food hubs should be recognised as core infrastructure, just as critical as waste, transport or health systems.

Food waste and food insecurity are not separate issues; they are two sides of the same challenge.

The food already exists. The need is undeniable. What’s missing is the system to connect the two.

If we are serious about reducing waste and supporting our communities, we must invest in solutions that match the scale of the problem.

Because no one in the Illawarra should go hungry while good food ends up in landfill.

Healthy Cities Australia has launched a crowdfunding campaign to establish the Illawarra Regional Food Hub. To support the initiative, visit the GoFundMe page.

About the writer

Melinda Lawton is an experienced project manager, design specialist and executive leader with a strong track record delivering complex projects end-to-end. She is known for building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving practical, innovative solutions. Melinda is the Project Manager - Regional Food Hub Establishment at Healthy Cities Australia and is also a Councillor at Kiama Municipal Council, committed to supporting strong, sustainable and connected communities.

Healthy Cities Australia (HCA) is an independent, not for profit organisation working nationally to advance healthier, more liveable places, with a strong focus on regional and marginalised communities.