Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Grants up to $50,000 for NSW local councils
- Application opened: 5 February 2026
- Application closed: 23 March 2026, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of this grant are to:
- Create and test diverse circular economy opportunities to bring FOGO compost back into the communities where it was generated
- Identify and overcome barriers to the use of FOGO compost by councils and others within the local circular economy
- Stimulate potential new markets for FOGO compost through practical demonstration of its uses and benefits
- Increase residents’ and council teams' knowledge and awareness of FOGO end uses to support product quality.
This program is administered by Environment Protection Authority.
Eligibility
Who can apply
NSW local councils (single or group of councils) with an existing or a planned FOGO service.
Types of projects funded under this grant
We are looking for a wide range of practical projects to demonstrate the diversity of FOGO compost use within metro and regional settings. A project should demonstrate how it:
- facilitates local circular economy opportunities to buy back and use FOGO compost in the communities where it was generated
- stimulates potential new markets for FOGO compost through practical demonstration of its uses and benefits
- supports increasing knowledge and awareness of how FOGO activities can positively or negatively impact compost product quality.
Eligible projects include council procurement processes, identification of knowledge and skill gaps and the capacity building to resolve them, or the site-specific use of custom compost blends on a variety of council and community managed sites within the LGA.
When the project can start and end
The project must be completed by 30 June 2027.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Please refer to the Circular Markets Grants Program guidelines
The EPA Organics Unit is available to help applicants with their application. Please email us on organics.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au for assistance.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Applications must be submitted using SmartyGrants by 2pm on Monday 23 March 2026.
For further information about the grant, there will be an online information session held at 11am on 24 February 2026. Please register for the session through this link:
This information session will also be recorded. For a copy of the presentation, email organics.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: NSW EPA Chief Executive Officer
Application close 2pm 23 March 2026.
Applications will undergo an eligibility check before being reviewed by an independent Technical Review Committee (TRC).
Successful applications will be decided by: EPA Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Following the assessment and approval process, successful applicants are expected to be notified May 2026.
Support and contact
Contact NSW EPA Organics Unit
Email: organics.grants@epa.nsw.gov.au