Environment Secretary James Griffin said the new Food and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service will revolutionize household waste services and help NSW meet its target of net-zero emissions from organic waste going to landfill by 2030.
“Almost half of the waste in red-top bins in NSW is food and garden waste, which can be diverted from landfill and turned into a valuable resource,” Mr Griffin said.
“In NSW, more than a third of the waste we send to landfill is food and Australia ranks fourth in the world for the amount of food we waste.
“When FOGO waste ends up in a landfill, it rots and produces harmful greenhouse gases. Through our $46 million Go FOGO grant program, we’re leading the way in helping more communities across the state keep organic waste out of landfills.
“Go FOGO will divert half a million tons of waste and instead process it into compost and use it in large-scale agriculture, parks or gardens where it can improve soil health and increase yields.
“FOGO is helping NSW households and communities reduce emissions, make the most of a valuable resource and save money going to landfill.”
More than 40 local authorities already have FOGO services thanks to the NSW Government’s $28 million investment in FOGO schemes since 2013, diverting over 210,000 tonnes of organic waste annually.
The NSW Government has also invested in a complementary infrastructure program which will support the construction or upgrading of 30 waste processing plants, increasing NSW’s food and garden waste processing capacity by 600,000 tonnes per year.
Local Government Secretary Wendy Tuckerman said NSW councils will now have the opportunity to offer the service to their residents through the new Go FOGO grants.
“This fantastic initiative will directly help communities improve their waste collection services and send less waste to landfill,” said Ms. Tuckerman.
“Councils will also have the opportunity to use the funds in a way that meets the needs of the community. For example, to buy containers and caddies, conduct audits, provide training or conduct trials.
“We know communities in NSW that have FOGO already love it and these new grants are designed to help communities adopt this new waste service that will help our environment while creating a valuable agricultural resource.”
The grants are funded by the NSW Government’s $356 million Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.
This has provided a total of $69 million by 2027 to divert organic waste from landfill, and is also developing new programs to increase food donations and help businesses recycle food waste.
The grants can be applied for by councils twice a year for four years, with funding available per household.
The application deadline for the first round of scholarships is November 16th.
For more information and how to apply, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/organics-infrastructure-fund/go-fogo-grants
