Recycling organic material back into the soil was a common practice among both Māori and Pākehā until the mid-20th century. However, in today's linear waste system, around half of the waste sent to landfills in the Waikato region is organic material. This not only represents a significant waste of resources but also contributes to pollution, as each tonne of food waste generates a third of a tonne of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases. Various organisations are working to address this issue, such as the Love Food Hate Waste program, Go Eco Food Rescue, Para Kore Marae Incorporated, Enviroschools, and several pioneering businesses and local governments. These groups are implementing solutions ranging from food scrap reduction and redistribution to community composting and kerbside organic material collections.

The Circularising Organics (CO) project, coordinated by the Waikato Regional Council, aims to support the development of a robust organic material system by exploring different collection and processing methods, contamination mitigation, and existing markets for high-quality products. Drawing on circular economy principles, the project seeks to design waste and pollution out, keep materials in use, and regenerate nature. The project emphasises the importance of networks and collaboration in building resilient systems, which include local processing capabilities and community engagement. The CO project also highlights the need to address contamination from both physical and chemical sources to secure a safe and economically viable organic material cycle. This comprehensive approach aims to improve soil health, reduce emissions, support local food production, and create jobs while increasing social and cultural equity.