Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund
From 1 January 2027, the Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund will replace the Growing the Recovery of Organics Waste via Food Organic and Garden Organics (GROW FOGO) Fund.
Applications for funding under the existing GROW FOGO Fund will be accepted until 31 December 2026.
On 27 July 2026 the Queensland government announced a $55 million allocation to the Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund which will expand on the GROW FOGO Fund, offering additional support to councils to expand household recycling and organics collection services. This will lead to the diversion of more waste from landfill and increase recycling.
The Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund provides ongoing support to assist Queensland councils to:
- expand and improve kerbside recycling and organics collection services using bins that meet the Australian Standards;
- reduce the volume of household waste that goes to landfill; and
- encourage household and community participation in food organics diversion activities.
What has changed?
Key changes include:
- New funding support for recycling bins;
- New funding support for community organics diversion hubs;
- Increased funding limits for bins and lids will be available to all Queensland councils, replacing previous surplus and contingency funding arrangements;
- Increased funding limits for some items of at-home food organics diversion equipment;
- Funding for communications to households is more targeted;
- Streamlined application and contractual requirements; and
- Improved clarity on eligible costs, acquittal requirements and delivery expectations.
| Funding Stream | Funding Amount | Communications Funding |
|---|---|---|
Stream 1 - Kerbside organics bins (140L/240L) | Up to $80 / household | $5 / household (fixed amount) |
*New Stream 2(a) – New kerbside recycling bins (140L/240L/360L) | Up to $90 / household | $5 / household (fixed amount) |
*New Stream 2(b) – Upsized kerbside recycling bins (240L/360L) | Up to $100/ household | N/A |
Stream 3 - Bin harmonisation (kerbside general waste bin lids) | Up to $40 / household, plus up to $40 / households for bins broken during lid replacement | N/A |
Stream 4 – At-home organics diversion equipment | Up to $10 / household for kitchen caddies, or up to $30 for larger items such as compost bins | N/A |
*New Stream 5 – Community organics diversion hubs | Up to $10,000 per hub (maximum number of hubs depends on residential population tier) | N/A |
Funding amounts and other stream-specific details are available in the Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund guidelines 1.1 MB).
How to apply
Applications for the Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund open on 1 January 2027 and must be submitted using SmartyGrants, the department’s online grants administration program.
Before beginning the application process, applicants must read the program guidelines in full and are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the SmartyGrants online application system and other supporting documentation.
Councils must not have previously received funding for the same activity or activities at the same household/s under the GROW FOGO Fund or any other grant program administered by the department.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the department for any questions on the application process.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
General
Who administers the program?
The Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund (the Fund) is administered by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (the department).
When will the program funding be available?
Funding is available to councils throughout the duration of the Fund and applications are accepted on an on-going basis. Any changes to program guidelines will be published on this website.
Eligibility
Eligible and ineligible costs clarified:
Eligible and ineligible costs per funding stream are listed in sections 5.2 to 5.6 of the guidelines . Please review these carefully as the arrangements have changed from previous versions of the GROW FOGO Fund.
Funding
Can councils commence project activities before a funding agreement is executed?
Funding cannot be used for activities, purchases or commitments made before a funding agreement has been executed, unless otherwise approved by the department in writing.
Can councils retain unspent funding?
No. Funding must only be used for approved project activities and eligible costs in accordance with the program guidelines and the funding agreement. Grant funding will be acquitted based on actual expenditure and any surplus funding is required to be returned to the department. This has been updated since the previous version of the GROW FOGO Fund.
Why is the funding contribution for a recycling bin higher than for a garden organics bin?
Funding is based on bin size. Eligible recycling bins include those up to 360L in size. The maximum bin size for garden organics bins is 240L. The funding contribution in the guidelines is the maximum funding available and will be acquitted based on actual expenditure.
Why is the funding contribution for an upsized recycling bin higher than for a new recycling bin?
Funding contributions are based on the expected costs of implementing the eligible equipment. In addition to delivery costs, the replacement of an existing recycling bin is also likely to incur costs related to removal of the replaced recycling bin.
Why isn't communications funding available for upsized recycling bins?
Upsizing a recycling bin generally requires limited behaviour change from residents, as households continue using the service in the same way. Funding for communications has therefore been prioritised towards activities that require greater community education and awareness.
Why are 360-litre garden organics bins not eligible?
Councils have advised that due to the weight of organic materials, larger garden organics bins may create operational and workplace health and safety risks during collection. For this reason, funding is limited to a maximum of 240L bin size.
For bin harmonisation projects, is there any contingency funding for incompatible or broken bins?
Contingency funding of up to 7.5% of the total bin harmonisation stream funding for bins broken during lid replacement was previously available through the GROW FOGO Fund. This has been replaced with increased funding caps for bin infrastructure (lids and full bins) where broken during replacement.
Contingency funding of up to 7.5% of the total bin harmonisation stream funding for incompatible bins was previously available under the GROW FOGO Fund. This contingency funding is no longer available – it is expected that councils will replace these bins as they reach end-of-life.
Application Process
What is the application deadline?
The application portal will remain open throughout the duration of the Fund and the department will process applications within a reasonable period once they are submitted. As a general guide, timeframes from submission of a complete application to contracting may range from 3 to 6 months.
Why is CEO endorsement required for projects?
CEO endorsement of projects is required to confirm that the council supports the proposed project, has considered the commitments associated with the funding including the ongoing operation of a new collection service, and is authorised to submit the application on behalf of the organisation.
Are storage or staging costs for equipment eligible?
Reasonable storage costs may be considered where they are directly related to project delivery. Councils should demonstrate that any proposed storage or staging costs are necessary, represent value for money, and are proportionate to the scale of the project.
Why doesn't the program fund 100% of the cost of at-home diversion equipment?
The Fund is designed to support household participation while encouraging shared investment in the initiative. Requiring a contribution from councils and/or participants helps ensure that participants have a vested interest in using the equipment, maximises the reach of available funding and supports broader program delivery.
Are project planning templates available to support council applications?
Yes. Templates are available on the SmartyGrants application portal. Please contact the department if you would like an additional copy.
Payments
What payment arrangements will apply?
Payment schedules will be specified in the funding agreement and determined by the department based on project requirements, delivery timeframes and anticipated expenditure profiles.
As a guide, payments may include an upfront payment, progress payments and a final payment following completion of project requirements, reporting and funding acquittal.
Funding agreements
How is the department undertaking contracting?
The department is using Head Funding Agreements (HFA) and Project Funding Schedules (PFS) to form Project Funding Agreements with councils under the Fund.
The department has adopted HFAs and PFSs as a way to improve the efficiency of executing and administering funding agreements with councils.
What is a Head Funding Agreement?
A HFA is the overarching legal agreement that is signed once and operates on an ongoing basis as the framework for entering into funding agreements with the department. It contains the standard terms and conditions that will apply to all approved grant funding that is contracted under the HFA.
What is a Project Funding Schedule?
The PFS sets out the detailed information about a project approved for funding by the department. It specifies key details for a project including the amount of approved funding, project description, start and end dates as well as the milestones and reporting requirements. Any special conditions specific to the project will also be incorporated into the PFS, allowing for grant specific flexibility.
Reporting, data and compliance
How often do councils need to submit progress reports to the department and what information is required?
Councils are required to submit progress reports quarterly.
Information is required on the delivery of the project, timeframes, achievements, as well as identification of any risks, issues and mitigation measures required.
What information will be required in milestone reports?
Reporting requirements for milestones achieved will be outlined in the funding agreement. Examples include:
- progress of the project against approved milestones;
- expenditure incurred and funding claimed;
- participation or distribution numbers;
- waste diversion and recovery outcomes;
- risks, issues and mitigation measures; and
- supporting evidence and records.
What data will councils need to collect and report?
Detailed reporting requirements will be provided in the funding agreement and reporting templates.
Data requirements will vary depending on the funding stream. Examples include:
- number of households participating;
- number and type of equipment distributed;
- quantities of organic or recycled material diverted or recovered;
- service uptake rates;
- project expenditure;
- copies of communications materials; and
- outcomes achieved against approved targets.
Community Composting Hubs
Do community composting hubs need to comply with environmental requirements?
Yes. Councils are responsible for ensuring all project activities comply with applicable legislation, approvals and environmental requirements.
Projects should be designed and operated to prevent environmental harm or nuisance, including issues such as odour, litter, leachate, dust or stormwater runoff.
Do community composting hubs require an environmental authority or licence?
Potentially, it will depend on the scale and nature of the activity.
Councils should obtain their own advice regarding regulatory requirements before commencing the project. For example, larger-scale composting operations may trigger additional approval requirements.
Can community composting hubs accept commercial organic material?
Yes. However, community composting hubs funded through the program are intended primarily to support the diversion of household food organic waste.
Where commercial material is accepted, councils must ensure the activity remains consistent with the objectives of the Fund and complies with any applicable regulatory requirements. Household waste outcomes should remain the primary focus of the project.
Can community composting hubs charge fees for accepting organic material?
Yes. Councils may charge fees where consistent with their normal operating arrangements and applicable regulatory requirements. However, projects funded through the program should prioritise achieving household organics diversion outcomes and demonstrate community benefit.
GROW FOGO Fund
Applications under v5 of the GROW FOGO Guidelines will remain open until 31 December 2026. Councils contracted under the GROW FOGO fund will not be affected by the new Kerbside Bin Acceleration Fund changes.
The GROW FOGO Fund provides support to assist Queensland councils to implement or expand household organic waste collection services and practices that divert garden organics (GO) and/or food organics (FO) from landfill.
More information about the GROW FOGO Fund, including eligibility and the application process is available in the latest Program guidelines (PDF, 3 MB).
| Funding Stream | South East Queensland Councils | Queensland Regional Councils |
|---|---|---|
| Stream 1 - Kerbside organics bins | $65 / household | $75 / household |
| Stream 2 - At-home organics diversion equipment | up to $15 / household | up to $15 / household |
| Stream 3 - Bin harmonisation (general waste bins) | $20 / household | $25 / household |
| Stream 4 - Education and awareness (related to stream 1 or 2) | $10 / household | $10 / household |
How to apply
South East Queensland Councils
South East Queensland (SEQ) Councils may work with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (CoMSEQ) Waste Portfolio Management Office (PMO) to collate the required information as detailed in the Program guidelines. Councils may contact the department at any time for assistance with the application process and can submit an application through the SmartyGrants portal*.
Regional (non-SEQ) Councils
Queensland Councils, other than SEQ Councils, may work with their Regional Coordinator to collate the required information as detailed in the Program guidelines. Councils may contact the department at any time for assistance with the application process and can submit the required information through the SmartyGrants portal*.
*The application forms are specific to council location due to the different funding amounts available. Please ensure that you are completing the correct application form.
| Recipient | Funding received for | Funding allocated |
|---|---|---|
| City of Moreton Bay |
| $11,741,944 |
| City of Ipswich |
| $5,900,000 |
| Brisbane City Council |
| $12,194,775 |
| Brisbane City Council |
| $400,000 |
| Sunshine Coast Regional Council |
| $1,901,804 |
| Logan City Council |
| $881,500 |
| Recipient | Funding received for | Funding allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Mareeba Shire Council |
| $208,150 |
| Cairns Regional Council |
| $1,062,975 |
| Gladstone Regional Council |
| $1,592,395 |
| Douglas Regional Council |
| $105,950 |
| Recipient | Funding received for | Funding allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Bundaberg Regional Council (Demonstration project) | The establishment of a trial project for kerbside food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection service in 2 suburbs over a 12-month period. The project included:
| $205,000 |
| Rockhampton Regional Council | Bin harmonisation for 10,226 households. | $274,824 |
| Brisbane City Council | Funding enabled:
| $4,195,900 |
| Gold Coast City Council |
| $5,555,630 |
Further information
For further information about the program, please contact the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling Programs team via email at OWRRPrograms@detsi.qld.gov.au