Parkes Shire Council, as part of the NetWaste regional waste group, has received $119,604 under Round 3 of the NSW Government's Scrap Together program to help households make the most of their food organics and garden organics (FOGO) recycling service.
This funding is part of a $10 million package announced by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to expand FOGO services, boost education, and support businesses and charities to reduce food waste.
Through NetWaste, eight Western NSW councils - including Parkes, Bathurst, Dubbo, Forbes, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Narromine, and Orange - will roll out the Scrap Together education campaign across their communities. The program includes school lesson plans, community events, and awareness materials to remind residents that "every scrap counts."
Mayor of Parkes Shire, Cr Neil Westcott, welcomed the announcement.
"Food and garden waste makes up around a third of what goes into the red-lid bin. By making small changes at home, we can all help keep valuable organics out of landfill and instead turn them into compost that improves our soils," Mayor Westcott said.
"This funding will allow us to deliver engaging and practical education programs that give residents the confidence to use their FOGO service well, ensuring the benefits for both the environment and our community."
NSW EPA Executive Director of Programs & Innovation, Alexandra Geddes, said "this investment empowers households to do their bit to manage food waste, reduce landfill volumes and combat climate change."
"We know food and garden waste makes up a third of red-lid bins. FOGO is one of the most effective ways to keep this out of landfill, and this funding is about giving more households access to the service and ensuring they are confident in how to use it.
"By backing new and existing services, we're helping councils set up their communities for long-term success with this program," she added.
The Scrap Together campaign has already proven successful, with previous pilots achieving a 10% increase in food waste recovery.
