GLEN INNES SEVERN COUNCIL RECEIVES $145K TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE

Published on 19 April 2024

Council has been awarded $145,500 under the NSW Government’s Go FOGO grants program to prepare for the implementation of a new food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection service for residents. The initiative aims to help reduce food waste in the region contributing to broader sustainability efforts across New South Wales.

Going FOGO presents an exciting opportunity for Glen Innes Severn households to join the movement of organics recycling, contributing to NSW’s goal of diverting half a million tonnes of food waste from landfill by 2027.

Glen Innes Severn Council Mayor Rob Banham said the grant marks a significant step forward in council’s efforts to create a greener, more sustainable future for the community.

"With the introduction of the FOGO service, residents will have the opportunity to recycle all their food scraps and garden waste, significantly reducing the amount of waste destined for landfill mitigating harmful emissions," Cr Banham said.

"Going FOGO will not only benefit our environment by diverting organics waste from landfill, but it will create a valuable resource that can enrich our soils and contribute to a more sustainable agricultural region."

Glen Innes Severn Council will join 60 other NSW councils that already have or are planning to provide a FOGO service, making up almost half of all councils in the state and driving food waste change at more than 1.3 million households.

Over the next three years, Council will utilise the funding to conduct waste audits, provide educational materials and initiate trials before the full rollout of the FOGO collection service in the Glen Innes Severn local government area, which is likely to occur in 2027.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Go FOGO grants managed by the NSW EPA visit: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/gofogogrants.