Business food waste partnership grants
Program snapshot
Category: Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy
Amounts: $4 million over four years to support eligible organisations to support businesses and institutions to reduce and source separate food waste. Grants of up to $200,000 are available for projects up to two-year duration.
Eligibility: Peak bodies, sector leaders, councils, hospitality, education and organisations with an active network or ongoing working relationship with food waste generating businesses or institutions.
Contact: organics.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au or info@epa.nsw.gov.au
Status: Open for applications until 4pm 14 November 2024
Managed by: NSW Environment Protection Authority
Aims
The Business Food Waste Partnership Grants program provides funding to peak bodies, sector leaders, councils, educators and other relevant organisations working with food wasting businesses, to help them reduce and source separate food waste. The program supports NSW Government targets to halve organics waste sent to landfill and achieve net zero emissions from organics waste in landfill by 2030.
The Food Waste Partnership Grants provide funding for projects that:
- raise awareness of proposed requirements for certain businesses and institutions to source separate food waste
- provide businesses and institutions with the knowledge and skills to reduce food waste and source separate well
- support businesses and institutions to transition to food waste recycling
- provide tools and training to reduce food waste generation.
The grants support projects that will contribute to the following NSW Government waste targets:
- Reduce total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030
- 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030
- Halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030.
Funding available
The program provides $4 million over four years from 2023-27. Up to $200,000 ex GST is available for projects up to two-years’ duration to educate and support businesses and institutions to source separate food waste.
Applications must be submitted using the SmartyGrants platform. Two grant rounds are scheduled to be held each year for four years, unless the funding is exhausted sooner.
Information session
An online information session will be held at 10.30am on 17 October 2024. Please register through this link. This session will be recorded and shared on the grants website.
Application form
Two grant rounds are planned each year from 2024-2027, or until funding is exhausted.
Applications must be submitted through SmartyGrants.
Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. By applying, the applicant agrees to and will comply with all terms and conditions in these guidelines and the Funding Deed template (PDF 714KB).
Costs of preparing and applying for the grant are the sole responsibility of the applicant. All decisions on the successful applicants made are at the discretion of the EPA Chief Executive Officer and are considered final.
Applicants may also set up a SmartyFile account to allow team members to work together on SmartyGrants applications.
Apply via SmartyGrantsGuidelines
For a PDF version of the guidelines email organics.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au or download this page as a PDF.
Methane production from food, garden and textile waste accounts for 3.1 million tonnes of CO2-e generated each year from landfills in NSW, accounting for 56% of landfill waste emissions. The National Food Waste Feasibility study identifies that the cost of food waste to the Australian economy is $36.6 billion a year. NSW produces 1.7 million tonnes of food waste per year with the hospitality, retail and institution sectors sending the most food waste to landfill.
The NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 (WaSM) proposes new requirements for large food wasting businesses in these sectors to source separate their food waste from 2025. The requirements aim to reduce organics waste in landfill, where it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and instead create a clean stream of a valuable resource that can be processed into compost, used to generate energy or be converted to animal feed.
Source separating food waste from businesses also supports the NSW Government’s Net Zero Plan Stage 1 goal for net zero emissions from food, garden and textile waste landfilled from 2030.
The Business Food Waste Partnership grants are complemented by a range of supporting EPA programs, including:
Applications are open to industry peak bodies, sector leaders, councils and relevant organisations. Eligible applicants must:
- be an organisation with an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be operational in NSW
- demonstrate experience in project delivery with the target audience
- be an owner of an active network and/or have ongoing engagement with large food waste generating businesses or institutions targeted in the project
- demonstrate the project is a new activity that can be incorporated into, or build on, existing activities, programs or other initiatives
- provide evidence, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), detailing the clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each party involved in the delivery of a joint project
- demonstrate shared values or organisational goals aligned with the NSW organics waste and emissions targets
- deliver education and communication that aligns with the EPA position statement on what can be recycled through Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) or Food Organics (FO) bins
- be submitted using SmartyGrants by 4pm 14 November 2024.
Applications that do not satisfy these conditions will be deemed ineligible and will not be funded.
The grants support activities that raise awareness and empower food businesses with knowledge and skills in food waste reduction and source separation. Projects must integrate with or build upon existing activities delivered with the target audience. Eligible activities for a project include, but are not limited to:
- raise awareness of the requirements for businesses to source separate food waste and actions to help them transition
- educate or upskilling business owners, managers and staff to source separate food waste well, minimising contamination and maximising recovery
- help businesses or institutions reduce food waste by increasing skills and knowledge, changing practices, procedures and behaviours
- support franchise businesses, institutions or hospitality service providers delivering food waste training to equip staff, tenants and cleaners on how to reduce food waste generation and maximise food waste recycling
- support hospitality education institutes incorporating food waste prevention and recycling content into existing hospitality courses to increase awareness and empower attendees with knowledge and skills
- support councils and food waste collection companies engaging their existing customers or local food businesses to maximise food waste recycling and minimise contamination
- support peak bodies, councils and education institutions providing capacity building training courses via webinars and workshops to upskill their members or high waste generating businesses on how to reduce and better manage their food waste
- support training institutions or councils hosting events and activities to create collaboration opportunities for local businesses or sectors to maximise food waste diversion from landfill.
Costs of preparing and applying for the grant are the sole responsibility of the applicant. Items or projects that will not be funded include:
- projects that focus on the research or the production of resources and training on using equipment
- any applicants, like waste consultants or contractors, who apply on behalf of the network owners like food franchise businesses or peak bodies
- activities that have already started or are carried out before the grant is offered and accepted
- activities happening outside NSW
- operational costs such as rent, IT equipment, electricity, insurance, etc. that are part of standard business operation
- attendance at workshops or participation in the project activities – for either the grantee or their audiences
- activities (or part of activities) that are funded by other EPA programs such as Bin Trim Network or Rebates programs
- ongoing activities that occur once the grant is completed, such as app licencing (beyond the grant period)
- equipment to source separate food waste that could be funded by the Bin Trim Rebate program like commercial composters and dehydrators
- waste assessment and advice may be included as a project activity, however only in the context of awareness-raising, education and capacity building to avoid duplication with other EPA programs, such as Bin Trim
- projects or activities that require funding to build a new, or expand an existing, channel or platform, like apps or websites.
Projects must include a robust process for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on outcomes, including gathering supporting evidence.
Applicants are encouraged to use the EPA’s Bin Trim App as a tool to collect waste data and monitor changes in food waste diversion. As well as assisting project participants to leverage funding for equipment through a Bin Trim rebate, it provides consistent, comparable data for broader program evaluation.
Successful applicants are required to provide at least three reports – a project start, mid-point and final report. See the 'Key dates and timeframes' section (below) for more information.
A Funding Deed detailing reporting requirements and an Activity Schedule identifying tasks to be completed, documents required and reporting dates, are both issued to successful applicants. The Funding Deed is tailored for each project.
Reports must be submitted using the EPA templates provided.
Successful applicants are also required to participate in bimonthly Partnership meetings, coordinated by the EPA. These meetings aim to create a platform for partners to share experiences and lessons learnt, identify opportunities for collaboration and maximise their project success.
Grants of up to $200,000 excl GST are available for projects lasting up to two years. The Funding Deed signed on approval of the grant sets out a payment schedule, aligned to activities, targets and milestones.
GST
Applicants should not include any GST in the application budget. The EPA will add 10 per cent GST to the grant payment unless the applicant advises that they are GST free organisations.
Co-contributions
- Co-contributions are not required, however, the more an applicant can demonstrate additional value in their project from their contributions, the higher the project will rank under the ‘value for money’ criterion. Co-contributions can be cash or in-kind.
- In-kind contributions include using existing resources (such as venues or equipment), the promotional activities (such as social media posts), staff or volunteer time – and can come from the applicant or project partners.
- Applicants can include or seek other funding to supplement their project delivery and, if so, are required to detail the funding source. Non-EPA funding can be included as the applicant’s co-contribution.
- Funding from other EPA grants or programs cannot be included as a co-contribution. However, it can be used to fund additional activities that will supplement your Business Food Waste Partnership Grants project.
Tax invoices
A tax invoice is required for the amount of each milestone payment of the grant. The invoice should include GST as a separate component if applicable.
Broadly, funding will be delivered as follows:
- 30% on signing of the funding agreement
- 40% on submission of a mid-term milestone report that demonstrates the project progress and achievement of targets
- 30% on project completion, demonstrated by submission of a final report detailing outcomes achieved, how the funding was used and confirmation of results.
In addition to eligibility requirements, successful applicants will need to sign and return a Funding Deed. This confirms their commitment to comply with the conditions of the funding, including:
- compliance with the eligibility criteria for the length of the grant agreement or paying back the funding
- reporting as described in the 'Monitoring and reporting' section (above)
- holding appropriate insurance and public liability coverage for the duration of the grant
- acknowledging the support of the NSW Government on publications relating to the project, in accordance with the Funding Deed; and
- inviting a NSW Government representative to any launch or public event associated with this funding.
A copy of the template Funding Deed (PDF 650KB) is available.
Key dates | Grant stages |
---|---|
19 September 2024 |
Applications open |
17 October 2024 |
Grant information session |
14 November 2024 |
Applications close via SmartyGrants by 4pm |
December 2024 |
Assessment process |
January/February 2025 |
Applicants are notified of the assessment outcome |
March/April 2025 | Co-sign Funding Deeds and kick-off project |
Bimonthly project catchup |
Reporting on project progress and collaboration with other grantees |
2026 |
2nd milestone reporting |
Up to May 2027 |
Projects completed with final reports submitted for acquittal |
Applications undergo an initial eligibility check before being reviewed by an independent Technical Review Committee (TRC) using the criteria set out below. The dot points provide additional information on the types of considerations relevant to each criterion.
The EPA Organics Unit is available to help applicants develop their projects. Please email us at organics.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au for assistance.
Criteria | Expected information |
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Support for C&I sector to minimise and source separate food waste (20%) |
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Does the organisation demonstrate its capacity to deliver this project? (20%) |
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Will the success of this project support NSW Government waste targets by 2030 (20%)
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Does this project have a monitoring and evaluation plan to monitor progress, manage risk and measure success? (20%) |
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Is the project creating added value? (20%) |
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The EPA has published several food waste-related reports, sector toolkits and social research including:
- Food Smart Business toolkit- Café and Restaurants
- Aged care toolkit
- Food Smart School educations resources
- Childcare Centre toolkit
- Find out about research on FOGO
- Fact sheets and report: Emissions of food waste recovery technologies
- Food organics in hospitals (PDF 420KB)
- Fact Sheet: Carbon credit income from FOGO (PDF 240KB)x
- Cool Compost
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you can demonstrate your capacity to deliver them. You will also need to demonstrate how proposed projects differ from each other and how they target different audiences. If you are proposing more than one project, please attach full details for each one via SmartyGrants. Also, please be clear about how many projects you have capacity to deliver and place them in order of preference.
No, but the funding is to support 2–3-year projects and the expectation is these will begin shortly after grants are awarded. You can apply under a future round if your project is not ready to start yet.
A monetary co-contribution is not required, rather, partners bring value to the program by engaging with their members and networks to promote best practice food waste avoidance and management.
Yes, you can use your funding to hire staff, but your application must demonstrate how you will continue to deliver food waste education after the funding has run out.
Grant recipients and project summaries
Round 1 was open from 18 March to 19 April 2024. A total of $1.66 million was awarded to nine projects.
More information can be found on the Round 1 recipients below.
Organisation | Project title | Amount awarded | Project description |
---|---|---|---|
Community Resources |
Zero Waste Partnership |
$200,000 |
The Zero Waste Partnership project aims to educate and train 125 food businesses in NSW shopping centres and education establishments to achieve an average of 30% reduction in food waste generation and 100 food businesses implement the food waste best practices to avoid, reduce and recycle food waste. |
NSW Department of Education |
Solving Organic Waste |
$200,000 |
The NSW Department of Education's Solving Organic Waste project will develop an evidence-based comprehensive tool kit to educate NSW Department of Education's teachers, students, office assistants, and cleaners on how to reduce and divert food waste from landfill. |
Go Circular Pty Ltd |
Winding down Wineries Waste |
$165,600 |
The Winding Down Wineries Waste project will increase the food waste awareness of 150 hospitality businesses in the Hunter Valley and the region. The food waste solutions will be co-designed with key stakeholders and 20 participating key winery stakeholders will achieve an average of 20% of organics waste reduction. |
Canberra Region Joint Organisation |
CRJO Halve Food Waste Challenge |
$199,800 |
CRJO Halve Food Waste Challenge is to educate 11 councils, major retailers, institutions, and smaller food businesses in the RAMJO region to reduce and source separate food waste. The project will engage 6 councils and at least 200 businesses to participate in the challenge and achieve 50% reduction of food waste sent to landfill. |
Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation |
RAMJO Regional Business Food Waste Education Initiative |
$140,000 |
The RAMJO Regional Business Food Waste Education initiative will deliver 30 workshops with a minimum of 300 businesses in attendance to increase their food waste source separation practices. This project will empower businesses across 13 council areas to implement food waste reduction and source separation, particularly in the hospitality, healthcare, and childcare sectors. |
Hunter New England Local Health District |
Waste-Wise Hospitality in Healthcare (WWHH) |
$160,000 |
Waste-wise hospitality in Healthcare aims to achieve 100 % of food waste diversion from landfill by establishing a circular economy model and educating owners of all hospitality outlets across Hunter New England Local Health District facilities, staff, healthcare staff, and consumers on how to reduce and source separate food waste. |
ORG Organic Recycling Group Pty Ltd |
ORG Organics Training & Education Program |
$200,000 |
The ORG Organics Training & Education Program will educate cleaners, kitchen staff, and managers of their existing clients to reduce and source separate food waste. 480 existing clients will receive one-on-one support and training to achieve an average of 30 % increase in food organics recycling per annual. |
Better Business Partnership (Ku-ring-gai Council) |
Better Business, Less Waste - Solutions for a Better Future |
$197,832 |
Better Business, Less Waste will develop sector-specific resources for the target audience to better manage their food waste and support 300 large food waste-generating businesses in Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney, and Willoughby council areas to achieve an average 40% reduction in food and organics waste sent to landfill |
Sydney Children's Hospitals Network |
Food Waste Reduction and Recovery at SCHN |
$200,000 |
This Food Waste Reduction and Recovery project will train 200 targeted staff on food waste management at Westmead and Randwick children's hospitals to achieve 20 % or 3120 kg of food waste diversion from landfill over the project term. |