ALDI Food Waste Diversion Project

The ALDI Food Waste Diversion Project is an aggregated waste diversion project operating across ALDI’s network of supermarkets and distribution centres throughout Australia. Registered in September 2023, this project does not occupy a single geographical footprint but rather encompasses activities at multiple sites within ALDI's supply chain. Consequently, it covers a vast range of regions, from the major metropolitan hubs of Sydney and Melbourne to regional towns across the country.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Source Separated Organic Waste) Methodology Determination 2016. This methodology credits emissions reductions achieved by separating organic waste (primarily food scraps) at the point of generation, in this case, inside ALDI stores and warehouses, and diverting it away from landfills. Instead of decomposing in a landfill to release methane, the waste is redirected to alternative treatments such as enclosed composting facilities or commercial worm farms, or it is rescued for human consumption by charities.

Given the nationwide nature of the project, the environmental conditions vary drastically, spanning from the temperate, high-rainfall zones of coastal New South Wales and Victoria to the subtropical and semi-arid regions of Queensland and Western Australia. However, the primary setting for the project activity is the "built environment" of retail and logistics infrastructure rather than agricultural soil. The project focuses on the commercial management of organic streams, utilising industrial composting technologies that process mixed solid waste into nutrient-rich composts or soils.

An interesting aspect of this project is its dual approach to diversion: it combines industrial waste processing with social impact. Alongside sending inedible organic waste to composting facilities, ALDI uses this framework to formalise and expand its food rescue operations, partnering with charities like OzHarvest and Foodbank to divert edible surplus food to people in need. This aligns with ALDI Australia’s broader corporate commitment to send zero waste to landfill by 2025.