PENRITH will share in a package of $4.6 million in new grants to fight food waste, as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to reduce the 1.7 million tonnes of food that is wasted each year in NSW. 

Under the first round of the new grants delivered by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), SecondBite has been given $410,570.00 to ensure that good food destined for waste reaches people facing hunger and food insecurity.

The SecondBite will help reduce and avoid food waste in the Penrith community, which can create harmful greenhouse gases when it rots in landfill, and ensure edible surplus food is being saved and delivered to people in need across NSW. 

The funding is part of a broader package of grants which have been given to businesses, councils, hospitals, schools and charitable organisations across NSW to reduce food waste and feed those in need. 

The first round of the NSW Government’s Food Rescue Grants has awarded nearly $3 million to support 20 charities and community organisations to rescue more surplus or donated food and deliver it to people in need across NSW. 

Recipients include larger state-wide organisations like FoodBank, OzHarvest and SecondBite as well as community-based organisations fighting food insecurity across Sydney and in regional centres like Dubbo, Lismore and Wollongong. 

An additional $1.66 million has been awarded through the new Business Food Waste Partnerships Grants which will help peak bodies, sector leaders and councils work together to find opportunities to stop food from going to waste.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals, the NSW Department of Education, hospitality and winery businesses and regional organisations of councils in the Hunter and Riverina are just some of the grantees who will improve their focus on food waste avoidance and recycling. 

For more information about the grants, go to: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/organics-infrastructure-fund

Karen McKeown, Member for Penrith, said: 

“It’s great to see the enthusiasm we have here in Penrith to reduce our food waste. 

“Penrith was the first metropolitan council to introduce a food organics system.

“Almost 70 per cent of the 1.7 million tonnes of food waste that is sent to landfill every year in NSW is still edible, so it’s vital that we are looking at a range of ways to save more food.

“By reducing our food waste, we can support the most vulnerable people in our community through donated food, and we’re also reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from landfill.”