$10 million to rescue food, fight the war on waste
The Minns Labor Government has awarded more than $10 million to businesses, organisations and Councils who are rescuing food waste across NSW.
Charities, such as Plate It Forward, Albury Wodonga FoodShare, and Secondbite, are also set to benefit from this new funding. By redirecting leftover food, these charities can deliver the equivalent of three million meals to communities in need and save around 1,500 tonnes from landfill each year.
With landfill in Greater Sydney running out by 2030, it’s never been more important to address unnecessary waste like food and garden scraps, which make up almost half of what goes in the average household red-lid bin.
Separating food scraps into the green bin and recycling them through FOGO programs is one of the easiest ways that businesses and the community can help us fight the waste crisis.
NSW will become the first state in Australia to mandate the statewide recycling of food waste this year. From 1 July, targeted NSW businesses and institutions, such as supermarkets, universities and prisons, will face new requirements to recycle their food waste. Councils must also provide weekly FOGO collections to households from July 2030.
The latest $10 million in funding includes:
- Go FOGO: $4.71 million for six projects helping councils expand or introduce weekly FOGO services to 118,000 households, including bins and kitchen caddies, education campaigns, and audits.
- Business Food Waste Partnership: $3.14 million for 18 projects supporting sector leaders to educate around 4,200 businesses and 2,000 staff on how to correctly separate food waste.
- Food Rescue: $2.25 million for 27 projects equipping food rescue and relief charities with infrastructure such as refrigerated trucks, vans and cool rooms to deliver food. Regional areas will be targeted as that’s where demand is highest.
A further $21.6 million is on the table for councils to roll out or expand FOGO services under the next round of the Go FOGO program. Applications are open until Thursday 2 July 2026.
For more information, visit: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/FOGO-grants
NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:
“When we bury our food waste in landfill, it takes up space, produces methane and drives up emissions. Rolling out FOGO is one of the fastest and most practical steps we can take to cut pollution, turn waste into valuable compost, and support a circular economy.
“There’s a simple solution to food waste - turn food scraps into valuable compost and keeping good food out of landfill and on tables.
“When people are experiencing cost of living pressures, it feels like an obvious choice to fund charities that repurpose food waste into meals for those in need.”
SecondBite CEO Daniel Moorfield said:
“Our $100,000 Food Rescue grant allows us to introduce regular weekend collections at Sydney Markets, rescuing an additional 5,000 kilograms of fresh produce every week for households facing cost-of-living pressures.
“This expansion will lift the volume of food saved by SecondBite NSW to 115,000 kilograms each week.
“Behind every kilogram rescued is a person doing their best through difficult circumstances. Access to nutritious food relief can ease financial stress, support wellbeing and remind people they are not facing hard times alone.
“Thanks to the support of the NSW Government, that’s the equivalent of up to 520,000 meals each year that can be redirected to charities – helping put food on the table for more people across the state.”
Sydney Markets CEO Anthony Boyd said:
“Food rescued through this program will be distributed to SecondBite’s network of 204 charities, such as the Bill Crews Foundation in Ashfield, close to Sydney Markets.
“Fresh produce sourced from our markets will help provide daily breakfast and lunch services for people dealing with food insecurity and ease the cost-of-living crisis.
“The partnership between the NSW Government, Sydney Markets and SecondBite demonstrates how collaboration across government, industry and the community sector can repurpose excess produce to support communities experiencing food insecurity.”
Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-sen Li MP said:
“Every meal rescued is a lifeline for someone doing it tough.
“By supporting food rescue and FOGO programs, we’re not just tackling waste—we’re making sure more people can put fresh, healthy meals on the table.
“It’s a practical, compassionate step that supports our community and protects our environment for the future.”