Organics Collections grants

Program snapshot

Category: Organics Infrastructure Fund

Amounts: Total of $27 million; individual grants: up to $1.3 million

Eligible bodies: Local councils and businesses

Contact: 131 555 or organics.recycling@epa.nsw.gov.au

Status:   Round 7 is now open. Applications close 3pm, Thursday 27 June 2019

Managed by: NSW Environmental Trust

Aims

This eight-year, $27 million program funds new or improved local council household kerbside collection services for food and garden organics, including collection systems for garden only, food waste, or a combination of both.

View the NSW Organics Collection services map (PDF 576KB).

How to apply

Grants of up to $1.3 million are available for bins, kitchen caddies and education for councils (or groups of councils) to introduce new food and garden waste collection services. Funding is also available for trials and system roll outs for source separated organics collections in multi-unit dwellings.

Businesses and councils with projects that involve collection of food waste from businesses are also eligible for funding, with up to $500,000 available for 50% of the cost of collection vehicles, bins and expert advice.

A webinar detailing how to apply for will be held on Wednesday 15 May 2019 at 2.30 pm. Register for the webinar.

Applications close at 3pm on 27 June 2019.

More information, the application form and guidelines are available from the NSW Environmental Trust.

Case studies

These case studies detail the process each council employed to upgrade an existing service or introduce a new one to their residents and the results.

• Kempsey Shire Council FOGO collection case study (PDF 452KB)
  The rural residents of Kempsey Shire have embraced a weekly food and garden organics collection and their dedication has contributed to a 15% drop in waste going to landfill in just 12 months.
• Leichhardt food waste collection case study (PDF 521KB)
  Residents living in multi-unit complexes in the Leichhardt area have given a ‘thumbs up’ to their organics collection service, which turns waste into electricity.
• Byron Shire Council FOGO collection case study (PDF 470KB)
  Organic waste that has been diverted from landfill is being used by Byron Shire’s farmers to grow sustainable produce and improve local soil quality.
• Cessnock City Council, Maitland City Council and Singleton Council organics collections case study (PDF 1150KB)
  A fortnightly garden organics bin was introduced in the Cessnock, Maitland and Singleton Council areas in 2017. In its first year 13,598 tonnes of garden organics were collected.
  
• Snowy Monaro Cooma Regional Council FOGO collection case study (PDF 776)
  The Cooma-Monaro Shire Council used its $339,499 grant funding to produce nutrient-rich compost, by introducing a new kerbside food organics and garden organics collection.
• Kiama Municipal Council FOGO collection case study (PDF 390KB)
  Excellent planning has encouraged Kiama residents to embrace an organics recycling program that turns food and garden waste into a range of soil, compost and mulch products.
• Netwaste Bathurst Regional Council, Forbes Shire Council and Parkes Shire Council FOGO collections case study (PDF 822KB)
  Three NSW Central West councils have successfully introduced a weekly food organics and garden organics (FOGO) waste service, diverting thousands of tonnes of organics from landfill
• Richmond Valley Council FOGO collection case study (PDF 416KB)
  Education has been critical to the successful rollout of Richmond Valley Council’s food organics and garden organics collection service. 
• Shellharbour City Council FOGO collection case study (PDF 660KB)
  Embracing a program to recycle food organics and garden organics (FOGO) has saved Shellharbour City Council ratepayers $219,000 in waste levy payments in the first year alone and extended the lifespan of the region’s landfill facility. 

Watch the Cooma-Monaro Shire Council Composting Food and Garden Organics video.

Past recipients

A total of $24.5 million has been allocated so far to divert more than 151,000 tonnes of food and garden waste from landfill in NSW.

• Round 1 allocated $6.5 million to 21 councils to provide new organics collection services to their residents. View project summaries on the NSW Environmental Trust page.
• Round 2 allocated $5.8 million to 10 councils for new organics collection services. View project summaries on the on the NSW Environmental Trust page.
• Round 3 allocated $3.5 million to 7 councils to provide new organics collection services to their residents. View project summaries on the NSW Environmental Trust page.
• Round 4 allocated $1.6 million to 4 councils to provide new organics collection services to their residents. View project summaries on the NSW Environmental Trust page.
• Round 5 allocated $2 million to 7 councils to provide new organics collection services to their residents, including four multi-unit dwelling trials. View project summaries on the NSW Environmental Trust page.
• Round 6 allocated $5 million to 10 projects. For the first time, this program is also supporting food waste collections from businesses, with three projects starting as a result of the grant funding to collect an estimated 1,350 tonnes of business food waste a year. View project summaries on the NSW Environmental Trust page.

More information

Waste and Resource Recovery Branch
Organics Unit
Phone: (02) 9995 6876
Email: organics.recycling@epa.nsw.gov.au