NSW EPA launches new grants program to help businesses reduce food waste
By Rachael Ridley 3 April 2024
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has launched a grants program worth $4 million to help businesses reduce food waste and boost recycling.
Through the new Business Food Waste Partnership Grants program, businesses and peak industry bodies can apply for grants of up to $200,000. Grantees will partner with the NSW EPA to design and deliver tailor-made education programs for businesses that generate food waste.
The aim of the program is to increase food waste awareness among the NSW business sector, as well as improving their capacity to implement best practice methods across operations. Through education programs, businesses will gain the knowledge and skills to avoid, reduce and separate organics from other waste for composting or other organics processing.
The grants program aligns with the NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy which outlines long-term objectives for transitioning the state to a circular economy including halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030.
According to the NSW EPA, 1.7 million tonnes of food waste is generated in NSW every year – 37 per cent of which comes from the hospitality, retail and institutional sectors. When organics are sent to landfill, they release methane as they decompose, a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
Educating and empowering businesses to divert organics from landfill by source separating their food waste from other types of waste will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, but also create a clean stream of organic material that can be processed into compost, used to generate energy or be converted to animal feed.
A range of organisations are invited to apply, including businesses, peak bodies and councils.
Two grant rounds are planned each year from 2024-2027 (or until funding is exhausted), with applications for Round 1 closing on 19 April 2024.
For information on the grants and closing dates, visit the NSW EPA website.
Recycling Equipment Rebates Program
The NSW EPA is also offering rebates to NSW businesses for recycling equipment under the Bin Trim Equipment Rebates Program. Rebates of up to $50,000 are available for various types of waste management equipment and technology including equipment that processes organics such as composters.
To find out what types of recycling equipment are available to businesses, visit Business Recycling’s Recycling Equipment Catalogue.
Rachael manages the Business Recycling and Recycling Near You websites. Rachael joined Planet Ark in early 2019 after eight years working in media and publishing as a producer, editor and writer. Rachael loves using her skills in content creation and communication to instigate positive environmental behaviour change. Outside of work, Rachael enjoys spending time in nature, listening to music and patting dogs.
