The New South Wales government has awarded more than $10 million to businesses, organisations and Councils who are rescuing food waste across the state, as well as charities including SecondBite, Plate It Forward, and Albury Wodonga FoodShare.
With landfill in Greater Sydney running out by 2030, it’s never been more important to address unnecessary waste like food and garden scraps, which make up almost half of what goes in the average household red-lid bin. Separating food scraps into the green bin and recycling them through FOGO programs is one of the easiest ways that businesses and the community can help fight the waste crisis.
From 1 July, targeted New South Wales businesses and institutions, such as supermarkets, universities and prisons, will face new requirements to recycle their food waste – making New South Wales the first state in Australia to mandate the statewide recycling of food waste. Councils must also provide weekly FOGO collections to households from July 2030.
New South Wales Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Penny Sharpe, said when food waste is buried in landfill, it takes up space, produces methane and drives up emissions.
“Rolling out FOGO is one of the fastest and most practical steps we can take to cut pollution, turn waste into valuable compost, and support a circular economy,” said Sharpe.
“There’s a simple solution to food waste – turn food scraps into valuable compost and keep good food out of landfill and on tables. When people are experiencing cost of living pressures, it feels like an obvious choice to fund charities that repurpose food waste into meals for those in need.”
The latest $10 million in funding includes;
- Go FOGO: $4.71 million for six projects helping councils expand or introduce weekly FOGO services to 118,000 households, including bins and kitchen caddies, education campaigns, and audits.
- Business Food Waste Partnership: $3.14 million for 18 projects supporting sector leaders to educate around 4,200 businesses and 2,000 staff on how to correctly separate food waste.
- Food Rescue: $2.25 million for 27 projects equipping food rescue and relief charities with infrastructure such as refrigerated trucks, vans and cool rooms to deliver food. Regional areas will be targeted as that’s where demand is highest.
A further $21.6 million is on the table for councils to roll out or expand FOGO services under the next round of the Go FOGO program, with applications open until 2 July.
The latest round of Food Rescue grants was allocated to 27 projects, intending to rescue a total of 1500 tonnes of food a year – enough food to make over 3 million extra meals a year.
SecondBite CEO, Daniel Moorfield, said the $100,000 Food Rescue grant allows the organisation to introduce regular weekend collections at Sydney Markets, rescuing an additional 5000 kilograms of fresh produce every week for households facing cost-of-living pressures.
“This expansion will lift the volume of food saved by SecondBite New South Wales to 115,000 kilograms each week,” said Moorfield.
“Behind every kilogram rescued is a person doing their best through difficult circumstances. Access to nutritious food relief can ease financial stress, support wellbeing and remind people they are not facing hard times alone. Thanks to the support of the New South Wales government, that’s the equivalent of up to 520,000 meals each year that can be redirected to charities – helping put food on the table for more people across the state.”
SecondBite also received funding in the initial round of grants in 2024, landing $410,570 to expand transport and storage infrastructure at its Penrith warehouse.
For more information and to apply for Food Rescue Rebates or FOGO grants, head to epa.nsw.gov.au.
