Growing the Recovery of Organic Waste via Food Organic and Garden Organics (GROW FOGO) Fund

Organic waste makes up around half of what Queenslanders throw away each week in their kerbside waste (red lid) bin. Diverting organic material from landfill presents numerous environmental and economic benefits, ranging from significant landfill methane emissions reduction to the generation of a value-added product.

The Queensland Organics Strategy 2022–2032 (the strategy) plans to helps manage organic materials better, like food and plants, from where they're made to where they're used up. The goals of the strategy will be reached though the Queensland Organics Action Plan 2022–2032 which provides guidance to create less organic waste, cause less harm to nature and communities, reusing things more, and creating economic opportunities.

The Queensland Government has committed to supporting councils, industry and community to implement the Organics Strategy and Action Plan, recognising the unique challenges faced by some Queensland communities.

The Growing the Recovery of Organic Waste via Food Organic Garden Organic (GROW FOGO) fund will provide support to assist Queensland councils to implement or expand kerbside Food Organic Garden Organic (FOGO) collection services that form part of a core waste service.

More information about GROW FOGO, including eligibility and the application process is available in the Fund guidelines (PDF, 679.5 KB) .

How to apply

South East Queensland Councils

Eligible councils will work with the Portfolio Management Office (PMO) of the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (CoMSEQ). Full details of the information that councils will need to provide is available from the PMO.

Councils can submit initiatives to the PMO for formal endorsement by the PMO Investment Review Committee and Project Control Group (PCG).

Following PCG endorsement, the department will formalise a funding recommendation to the financial delegate.

Regional (non-SEQ) Councils

Interested councils should email the Office of Circular Economy Waste Programs team to discuss program specifics.

For further information, please contact the Office of Circular Economy Waste Programs team via email at: CEPrograms@des.qld.gov.au

Successful applicants

Recipient	Funding received for	Funding allocated
City of Moreton Bay	New kerbside organic bins Bin harmonisation (replace older dark green lids with red lids)	$9,646,430
City of Ipswich	New kerbside organic bins New kitchen/household caddies Bin harmonisation (replace older dark green lids with red lids) Education and awareness activities	$9,502,820
Bundaberg Regional Council	Demonstration household food organics garden organics collection project including supply of household equipment (kerbside organics bins, kitchen caddies and bin harmonisation) and delivery of education and awareness activities	$205,000