$31.4 million in grants is now open for councils to support the roll out of food organics and garden organics (FOGO) recycling. Run by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the Go FOGO grants will help local councils fast-track their transition to FOGO and tackle the state's waste crisis.
Greater Sydney is on track to run out of landfill space by 2030. With food and garden waste making up about a third of red-lid bins, diverting food and garden waste is a critical step in easing pressure on landfill.
The NSW Government became the first state to mandate FOGO statewide and backed it with the $81 million FOGO Fund. This $31.4 million round of the Go FOGO grants, is one part of the full package.
These grants will support councils to move all households to FOGO recycling by July 2030.
Councils can access this grant funding based on the number of households making the transition to FOGO, with extra support for high-density areas. Grants include a flat rate of $25 per apartment, and $50 per house, if there is no existing organics collection.
The grant round announced today is in addition to the following support:
- $1.9 million awarded to Sutherland, Blue Mountains, Blayney and Parramatta councils to introduce new FOGO services, under Round 3 of the Go FOGO grants
- $2.1 million allocated to 14 projects to help organisations like Accor Hotels and TAFE NSW to reduce and separate food waste, under Round 2 of the Business Food Waste Partnership grants
- $340,000 available for councils with existing services to do more community education.
Since November 2022, $18.6 million across three Go FOGO rounds has helped 23 councils deliver the changes to almost 680,000 households. The money has covered education, staff, audits and essential infrastructure like bins and kitchen caddies.
Councils who want to apply for the Go FOGO and Scrap Together grants can apply until Tuesday 29 April on the NSW Environment Protection Authority website.
Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:
"Greater Sydney is on track to reach landfill capacity by 2030 - we need solutions now.
"Food and garden waste makes up about a third of our red-lid bins. FOGO diverts this from landfill, reduces disposal fees, cuts emissions and creates a valuable resource for soil in gardens, landscaping and agriculture.
"I'm excited that NSW is the first state in Australia to mandate the transition to FOGO, and we're backing this up with real support for councils and businesses.
"We're giving councils, residents and organisations the funding and tools needed to succeed - empowering NSW to take control of food waste and drive our shift to a circular economy.
"Now's the time to act - we're supporting the switch to FOGO to help NSW tackle food waste head-on."
