Member for Bega Andrew Constance today announced a new grant program, Love Food Communities, aimed at tackling food waste in local communities including at schools, sporting clubs and businesses, coordinated by councils, with grants of up to $250,000 available.
“Every year almost a million tonnes of food waste ends up in landfill in NSW. This grant program is an opportunity for communities to put up there hands to address food waste wherever it might be happening,” Mr Constance said.
“It is a win for the environment and our communities. Wasting food wastes money for individuals, families and businesses and also wastes the considerable energy, water and other resources used to produce food.
“The grants are designed to tackle food waste in every part of the community, including households, business, schools, sporting clubs and other organisations.”
The Love Food Communities grants, form part of the Love Food Hate Waste program under the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA)Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.
The EPA’s Love Food Hate Waste program aims to support households and businesses across the state to avoid wasting food. Already $1.6 million has been provided to support 53 projects to tackle food waste under Love Food Hate Waste.
The grants are open to councils and groups of councils who will partner with local organisations within their community to create Love Food Communities.
“It provides an opportunity for councils to work with their community to implement innovative projects that could make a real difference to food waste and I encourage local councils to look for ways to take advantage of the grant program.”
Applications are now open to councils or groups of councils who want to develop comprehensive programs that tackle the issue of food waste. Expressions of interest close on 19 November 2018.
The EPA is hosting an information session on the 10 October 2018 to assist potential applicants. For more information and to register for the webinar, visit the EPA website, www.epa.nsw.gov.au
For more information and tips to avoid food waste visit the Love Food Hate Waste website; https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.nsw.gov.au/
