Business Food Waste Partnership Grant NSW – Round 3

Purpose and Program Overview

The Business Food Waste Partnership Grants Program, administered by the New South Wales (NSW) Environment Protection Authority (EPA), is a targeted initiative providing funding to organisations that work with food waste generating businesses and institutions. The primary objective is to facilitate the reduction and source separation of food waste across the NSW commercial sector.

This grant directly supports the NSW Government’s commitment under the Net Zero Plan Stage 1 goal for net zero emissions from food, garden, and textile waste landfilled from 2030. By funding education, upskilling, and capacity-building projects, the program aims to prepare the business sector for future regulatory requirements, specifically the FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics) business mandate.

The total program is allocating $7 million to educate and upskill businesses. Funding assists organisations such as peak bodies, sector leaders, councils, and educators to provide the knowledge, skills, tools, and training necessary for businesses to avoid, reduce, and effectively source separate food waste.

Key Grant Details

Key details for Round 3 of the Business Food Waste Partnership Grant are as follows:

• Grant amount or funding range: Grants of up to $200,000 were available per project.
• Application open and close dates: Applications opened on 26 August 2025 and closed on 21 October 2025, 4:00 pm.
• Eligible industries or business types: Organisations (such as peak bodies, sector leaders, councils, and educators) that work with food waste generating businesses or institutions. Direct food-wasting businesses are the target audience, not the applicants.
• Required co-contributions: Co-contribution requirements are not explicitly stated in the provided documentation.
• Location/state/territory applicability: Strictly limited to organisations that are operational in NSW.

Priority Sectors

The grant is targeted at the Waste Management, Education, and Advocacy sectors, with the ultimate focus being on Food Waste Generating Businesses and Institutions in NSW.

A specific priority for Round 3 was given to projects that support businesses meeting the FOGO mandate threshold to source separate food waste from 1 July 2026. Projects must align with the EPA’s position on what can be recycled through FOGO or FO (Food Organics) bins.

Funding Scope

Funding provides up to $200,000 to support educational and transitional projects for the commercial sector.

• Minimum and maximum amounts: The maximum grant amount is $200,000.
• Funding Category: Primarily for education, communication, capacity building, and transition support activities.
• Eligible Funding Focus: Projects must be a new activity that can be incorporated into, or build on, existing activities, programs, or initiatives delivered with the target audience.
• Project timeline or eligible funding duration: Not explicitly specified, but projects must deliver education and support in line with the FOGO mandate transition timeline.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be established organisations with demonstrated capacity to deliver projects to the target audience:

• Business Structure: Must be an organisation with an Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Location/Operation: Must be operational in NSW.
• Experience and Network: Must demonstrate experience in project delivery and be an owner of an active network or have ongoing engagement with the target audience (food waste generating businesses).
• Project Nature: The project must be a new activity that can integrate with or build upon existing work.
• Compliance: Must demonstrate shared values or organisational goals aligned with NSW organics waste and emissions targets, and deliver content that aligns with the EPA’s FOGO/FO position statement.
• Joint Projects: Must provide evidence (e.g., MOU) detailing clearly defined roles for each party in a joint project.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The grant supports activities that raise awareness, educate, and facilitate the transition of businesses towards food waste reduction and separation.

Eligible Activities include:

• Awareness Campaigns: Projects raising awareness of FOGO business mandates and transition requirements.
• Training and Upskilling: Educating and upskilling business owners, managers, staff, tenants, and cleaners in food waste reduction and source separation, minimising contamination, and maximising recovery.
• Support and Tools: Providing tools and training to source separate food waste effectively.
• Capacity Building: Hosting events, webinars, and workshops for members or high waste generating businesses to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Council/Collector Support: Projects supporting councils and food waste collection companies in engaging customers to maximise recycling.

Assessment Process

The Business Food Waste Partnership Grants Program is administered as a Competitive process. Applications undergo an eligibility check before being reviewed by an independent Technical Review Committee (TRC). The final decision is made by the EPA CEO.

Key evaluation criteria (as detailed in the guidelines, which are referenced but not provided) are typically focused on:

• Strategic Alignment: The project’s effectiveness in supporting businesses to source separate food waste and achieving the NSW net zero emissions goal from food waste.
• Project Quality: The clarity, experience, and capability of the applicant in delivering education and communication that will maximise food waste diversion and minimise contamination.
• Impact and Reach: The extent of the applicant’s active network and ongoing engagement with the target audience to ensure effective project delivery.

Recent Program Updates

Round 3 of the Business Food Waste Partnership Grant opened on 26 August 2025 and has recently closed (21 October 2025). This round was a key phase in the $7 million program, specifically prioritising projects that prepare businesses for the mandatory source separation of food waste from 1 July 2026 under the FOGO business mandate requirement. Applicants were scheduled to be notified of their assessment outcome in December 2025/January 2026.

Application Tips

Organisations applying for similar grant opportunities should structure their proposals around maximum impact and compliance:

• Target Mandate Threshold: Specifically detail how the project will support businesses that meet the FOGO mandate threshold, reflecting the program’s immediate priority.
• Demonstrate Existing Network: Provide clear evidence (e.g., case studies, MOUs, membership figures) of the organisation’s active network and prior experience delivering projects to the target audience in NSW.
• Focus on Behaviour Change: Outline a robust plan for delivering education and communication that not only raises awareness but measurably increases skills, changes procedures, and minimises contamination in the food waste stream.
• Compliance with EPA Guidance: Explicitly confirm that all educational content adheres to the EPA’s position statement on FOGO/FO recyclables.

Where to get help

Consider consulting a grant specialist for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact Pattens Group today, and we will connect you with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the program’s official website and other associated Australian government websites.