The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is working to reduce good quality food suitable for human consumption from being disposed to landfill.

The Food Rescue Grants are available to expand food rescue and relief capacity to safely manage increasing amounts of rescued food in NSW. The grants are part of a suite of organics programs available to support NSW mandates introduced into legislation under the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment (FOGO Recycling) Act 2025 in February 2025. They include a requirement for supermarkets to record their food donations.

The objectives of this grant are to:

• increase the diversion (i.e. rescue) of quality food suitable for human consumption from landfill
• support NSW food rescue and relief organisations to expand their capacity to manage increasing amounts of rescued food to provide to the community.

A grant of up to $100,000 for individual food rescue and/or relief organisations and up to $300,000 for coordinating organisations with a total funding pool of $1.1 million for Round 2.

The funder is looking for practical on-the-ground projects that increase the amount of rescued food in NSW.

For example:

• If you are a single Food Rescue and/or Relief Organisation, you may have identified the need for a new electric vehicle to increase collections and safe food storage in transit. Or increased refrigeration, freezer areas or shelving for safe food storage.
• You may have identified a need to increase streamlined food rescue collections using a coordinated regional approach and new technology to support the coordination.

Eligible applicants must be:

1. operating in NSW with an active Australian Business Number (ABN) for at least 6 months
2. the entity that will take responsibility for the delivery of the grant project and associated costs
3. primarily rescuing or planning to rescue food from businesses captured under the new FOGO mandates, such as:
   • supermarkets
   • premises in which food or drink is prepared or provided including:
     • correctional complexes, including correctional centres
     • centre-based childcare facilities
     • educational establishments including schools, universities and TAFE
     • hospitals including public hospitals, private health facilities and mental health facilities
     • seniors housing for which the council does not collect their waste
     • food and drink premises such as restaurants, cafes, takeaway food and drink premises, pubs and bars
     • hotel or motel accommodation
     • registered clubs that hold a club licence under the Liquor Act 2007
     • premises used for a mobile catering business within the meaning of the Food Act 2003, Part 8, Division 3, but excluding premises at which the food is served
4. a NSW:
   • Food Rescue Organisation; or
   • Food Relief Organisation; or
   • Coordinating Organisation.

• Email: organics.recycling@epa.nsw.gov.au