John McKew

Soil
 AORA, News

AORA – healthy soil for healthy cities

Soil took centre-stage on 5 December 2025 as soil and compost advocates around the world rallied to celebrate World Soil Day. Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the theme, “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”, highlighted the role soil plays in creating greener, more resilient and livable cities, improving public health and fighting climate change. Read More
Knot
 AORA, FOGO, FOGO, News

To knot or not to knot

The rollout of FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) around the country is not without challenges and concern, especially from the perspective of the Australian Organics Recycling Industry (AORA). Key to these concerns from the industry is the potential for greater levels of contamination that comes with the introduction of food organics. Historically, garden organics has been a relatively clean feedstock stream and has posed only relatively minor concern in relation to contamination. There is still contamination concerns from garden organics from plastics (e.g., potting mix bags, plastic plant pots) and other unwanted waste materials. While unwelcome, these have proven relatively easy to manage (but shouldn’t be present nonetheless). Read More
contaminant
 AORA, FOGO, News

AORA – taking on one contaminant at a time

There’s an old adage that the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. I cannot help but think that this has correlation to organics recycling and contamination – is it time to solve contamination, one contaminant at a time? Do we need to start focusing attention and action on specific contamination problem areas, providing focus and attention to specific items instead of broadly speaking of contamination as a wide-ranging issue and hoping that will help solve the myriads of issues? Read More
AORA, Latest News, Litter

A transition to certified compostable PLU stickers

An agreement has been reached between the fresh produce industry and composting organisations to accelerate the transition to certified compostable PLU (Price Look Up) stickers. This intent was reached at a meeting in Niagara Falls, Canada, on October, 1 with the discussions leading to the agreement to develop a multi-phase framework to support this transition through the development and adoption of a global standard for compostable PLUs. Read More
AORA harmonisation
 AORA, Opinion

AORA looks into state harmonisation

The Australian Organics Recycling Industry (AORA) is currently reviewing its position paper on Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO). This review has been undertaken to ensure the Australian organics recycling industry has a clear guidance framework for the key issues and considerations for recycled organics throughout the transition from household Garden Organics (GO) collections to the mandated FOGO collections, and the delivery of Food Organics (FO) and FOGO collections for businesses by 2030 (as per the National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 – updated 2022 – Action 6.04). Read More
FOGO, Latest News

AORA Conference puts organics at forefront of circular economy

The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) 2024 Annual Conference was held at Sea World Resort Conference Centre on the Gold Coast. The AORA Conference was a three-day event that was themed Collaboration for Success – Securing our Industry’s Future, brought together key stakeholders from Australia’s organics recycling industry (business, government, and academia) to discuss the importance of working together to secure the future of our industry. Strong foundations for collaboration were established between all parties, focusing on navigating regulatory landscapes, identifying priority issues, and exploring investment avenues for the industries sustainable growth.

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AORA, Asbestos, Opinion

AORA supports action for asbestos issues

The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) understands the concerns about the recent incidents surrounding the detection of asbestos in mulch products in public spaces across NSW. This is following the finding of asbestos by the NSW EPA and the City of Sydney at various sites. As the peak industry body for the organics recycling industry, we are alarmed with the growing number of sites affected and the impact this is having on the industry as a whole and confidence in recycled organics products. Read More
Latest News

Challenges ahead for organics recycling in 2024

The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) is in the process of releasing the second edition of its Australian Organics Recycling Industry Capacity Assessment: 2022-23. This report is produced every second year, alternating with The Economic Contribution of the Australian Organics Recycling Industry report. Both reports are commissioned through the Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions (AEAS) for AORA. Read More