The NSW Environment Protection Authority has released a film to highlight the problem of food waste in the state and the work of food relief agencies to tackle the issue.
The video, Feed People Not Landfill, was launched on World Food Day (16 October). It showcases EPA NSW funding for equipment like fridges and vans to enable food relief agencies, like OzHarvest, Foodbank and SecondBite, to handle more donated food.
“One million tonnes of food waste is dumped in landfill in NSW each year, while every month 100,000 people go hungry,” said Amanda Kane, Acting Manager – Organics.
“Need is increasing all the time, with food relief agencies estimating they need 34 per cent more donated food right now to meet current demand.
“We’re trying to bridge the gap between those two figures here in NSW by raising awareness of the issue, encouraging business to donate, and helping food relief charities redistribute more food.”
Ms Kane said every organisation featured in the video has received funding through a partnership between the Environmental Trust and EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More Organics Infrastructure (large and small) program.
The grants program is currently open for applications for up to $500,000 for equipment to help charities collect, store and redistribute surplus food.
Rounds one and two of the Organics Infrastructure program supported seven food relief agencies with funding totalling $1,455,886, some of which are profiled in the six-minute Feed People Not Landfill video.
Up to $1 million will be available under Stream 3 of the Organics Infrastructure (Large and Small) Program for food donation projects. Applications are open until 1 December 2015.