The considerations taken during a waste audit in Sydney will do more than improve your companies waste management practices.
With Greater Sydney’s landfill capacity under pressure and NSW waste policy shifting toward higher diversion and food organics programs, a well run waste audit is no longer a “nice to have” for many businesses.
In this guide, we’ll walk through 11 key considerations for conducting a waste audit in Sydney, from setting clear objectives to sampling waste streams correctly and turning findings into measurable improvements.
But note that if your site handles complex or hazardous waste, a professional, EPA aware approach is essential to minimise risk and keep operations running. You’ll get this from partnering with professional waste management services like Evoro.
Why a waste audit matters in Sydney (and NSW)
Sydney organisations face a unique combination of operational and regulatory drivers when it comes to their waste systems.
Landfill constraints, levies, and changing expectations around recycling and organics mean waste performance is increasingly tied to cost and compliance.
Common reasons Sydney businesses run waste audits
- Reduce waste costs by right sizing bins, pickup frequency, and service types
- Improve diversion (increase recycling and organics recovery, reduce contamination)
- Support compliance with NSW requirements and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expectations
- Build credible sustainability reporting aligned with circular economy goals
- Identify risk areas such as misclassified hazardous waste, e waste handling gaps, or poor segregation
What is a waste audit (in practical terms)?
It typically combines observation, data review (bin sizes, weights, pickups, invoices), and hands on sampling to identify improvement opportunities.
Typical outputs you should expect
- A clear breakdown of waste streams (e.g., general waste, commingled recycling, cardboard, organics/FOGO, e waste, hazardous waste)
- Contamination rates (what’s in the wrong bin, and how often)
- Bin and service recommendations (sizes, locations, signage, pickup cadence)
- Actions and targets (what to change, who owns it, and by when)
- Documentation that supports internal reporting and external compliance discussions
11 Key Considerations for Conducting a Waste Audit in Sydney
Conducting a waste audit in Sydney requires more than just weighing bags; it demands an understanding of the city’s specific regulatory shifts, such as the 2025 FOGO mandate, and the logistical challenges of a bustling metropolitan area.
Below are the essential factors to consider when planning your audit.
1) Define clear objectives (cost, diversion, or compliance)
Start by deciding what “success” looks like for your site. Your objectives will shape your sampling method and the depth of your analysis.
- Cost reduction: Identifying opportunities for fewer collections, better bin sizing, or reducing landfill levy exposure.
- Recycling uplift: Increasing cardboard recovery or identifying the source of commingled contamination.
- Compliance: Ensuring hazardous waste is correctly handled and meeting the NSW EPA’s evolving traceability requirements.
2) Build an in house, cross departmental team (avoid siloed data)
Waste is an operational byproduct that touches multiple teams. Involving various departments ensures you capture a complete picture of why waste is generated.
- Facilities & Building Management: To coordinate bin access and contractor logistics.
- Operations: To identify production offcuts and process specific waste.
- EHS & Environmental: To manage risk controls and ensure correct classification.
- Front line Staff: To provide insight into daily disposal habits.
- Procurement: To align audit findings with existing waste contracts and invoices.
3) Choose audit timing that reflects “normal” operations
Sampling during atypical weeks can produce misleading data. In Sydney, it is crucial to account for peaks in hospitality, retail surges, or industry shutdowns.
Choose a representative window—typically one week to one month—and avoid holiday periods, major stocktakes, or maintenance windows that don’t reflect your standard waste output.
4) Factor in local events and weather impacts
Sydney’s seasonality directly influences bin contents.
Warmer months can increase the volume and odour of organic waste, while heavy rain events can compromise outdoor storage areas and lead to water contaminated waste.
Large scale events in the CBD or local precincts can also temporarily distort your site’s “normal” generation rates.
5) Include all waste streams (not just general waste)
A high quality Sydney waste audit captures the full spectrum of waste, including high risk materials.
- General Waste & Recycling: Landfill, commingled, and cardboard.
- FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics): Essential for sites preparing for the NSW FOGO mandate.
- Hazardous Waste: Chemicals, oily rags, and contaminated absorbents.
- E waste & Special Streams: Batteries, lighting, and soft plastics.
Important: If hazardous waste is identified, do not ask staff to handle it. Always use trained, suitably equipped professionals to manage these materials safely.
6) Set the scope and locations (prioritise high impact areas)
For large organisations across Greater Sydney, focus on areas with the highest waste volumes or compliance risks.
This typically includes loading docks, central waste rooms, food preparation areas, and maintenance workshops where hazardous materials are more likely to be found.
7) Use representative sampling (and don’t “clean up” beforehand)
To get an honest baseline, sampling must reflect reality. Avoid tidying up or pre sorting waste before the audit, as this hides the true drivers of contamination.
Collect samples across different days and shifts to ensure you see the full variety of disposal behaviours.
8) Prioritise safety, PPE, and a suitable sorting area
Treat the audit site like a controlled work area. Ensure all participants have appropriate PPE, including puncture resistant gloves, eye protection, and protective clothing.
The sorting zone should be well ventilated, contained, and equipped with spill controls and first aid access. Establish strict rules regarding what should not be handled, such as unlabelled chemicals or medical sharps.
9) Measure quantities accurately (weights, volumes, and contamination)
Move beyond “visual estimates” to gain dependable data. Weighing samples using calibrated scales allows you to identify precise cost drivers, such as bins being collected while half full.
You should also calculate contamination rates in your recycling streams and cross reference your findings with actual waste invoices to see how generation maps to spend.
10) Align the audit with NSW rules and local compliance
Your audit must reflect NSW regulatory realities. This includes the 2025 FOGO mandate, which requires certain businesses to separate food waste, and the NSW waste levy, which significantly impacts landfill costs.
Ensure all regulated wastes are correctly classified and that your documentation supports the traceability required for external audits.
11) Plan the analysis and follow up
The audit is only the beginning. Use the data to create a specific action plan, such as identifying the top three diversion opportunities or updating bin signage.
Set measurable targets, such as a 15% reduction in general waste within six months, and plan to re audit annually—or quarterly for high change sites—to track your progress.
Practical quick wins Sydney sites often find
Many Sydney businesses can achieve immediate improvements following a structured audit.
These include right sizing bins to avoid paying for empty space, separating cardboard to take advantage of lower recycling rates, and standardising bin colours and signage across the site to reduce contamination.
Formalising hazardous waste pathways with documented procedures also provides an immediate boost to your compliance position.
When to bring in a professional waste audit partner
If your site generates high volumes, has multiple waste streams, or deals with hazardous materials, outsourcing the audit to an experienced provider helps ensure safety, accuracy, and defensible reporting.
It’s time to get expert waste management support if you have:
- Hazardous waste or unknown materials in your waste area
- Recurring contamination issues (recycling or organics)
- Multiple sites or complex collection arrangements
- Cost blowouts you can’t explain from invoices alone
- Upcoming compliance requirements or internal ESG reporting deadlines
How Evoro can help with waste management systems in Sydney
Evoro supports Sydney and NSW businesses with practical, compliance led waste auditing and waste management improvements—especially where hazardous or complex streams are involved. Our approach focuses on safer handling, clear reporting, and real operational outcomes (not just a spreadsheet).
- Waste audits designed for actionable cost and diversion improvements
- Hazardous waste collection and disposal managed under strict procedures
- Site specific recommendations for bin infrastructure, services, and contamination reduction
- Traceability and documentation to support procurement, compliance, and audits
Next step: Book a free waste audit or request a quote for Sydney waste services.