Applications are open for round seven of the NSW EPA organics collections grant program.
$2.6 million is available for local councils and businesses wanting to introduce, or further develop, food and garden waste collection services, with funding provided by the NSW Environmental Trust.
EPA Organics Manager Amanda Kane said the grants would provide funding for household collection services, trials for food waste collections in unit blocks and new food waste collection services for businesses looking to improve their waste practice.
“Councils that have previously received these grants have been able to divert thousands of tonnes of waste by introducing regular organic collections services,” Ms Kane said.
“Councils like Bega, Byron and Shellharbour combined funding with great education programs to teach people how to use the service, while councils like Sydney and Randwick are trialling food-only collections to transform waste into electricity.”
Ms Kane said funding would help recipients make a real difference in the reduction of organic waste sent to landfill.
“Previous projects have supported new or improved green lid bins for 600,000 homes in NSW, diverting an extra 160,000 tonnes of food and garden waste from landfill, turning it into high quality compost,” Ms Kane said.
“With funding support, residents in 42 council areas across NSW are now able to recycle their food and garden waste at the kerbside each week.”
Grants will be delivered through a partnership between the EPA and the NSW Environmental Trust.
Applications close 27 June 2019.
Related stories:
- NSW EPA awards $3.6 million to boost recycling
- NSW EPA’s Local Litter Check goes digital
- Bega Valley Shire Council’s FOGO crew scoops major recycling award