$9 million grants targeting waste and illegal dumping
The NSW Government is providing another $9 million in grants to tackle illegal dumping, boost litter prevention efforts, and support innovative recycling projects.
The NSW Government is providing another $9 million in grants to tackle illegal dumping, boost litter prevention efforts, and support innovative recycling projects.
The funding will help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and keep our streets, parks and waterways free of litter.
More than $1 million has been awarded to successful recipients under two programs to help communities and councils combat litter challenges and increase food and garden waste recycling.
- Nine projects awarded $884,000 under the Litter Prevention Grants Program will see new initiatives rolled out such as new cigarette butt disposal bins, education and awareness campaigns, and improved planning to decrease litter across metropolitan and regional NSW.
These projects will be led by TAFE NSW, Clean Up Australia, Bayside Council, City of Canada Bay, Hawkesbury City Council and the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils. - The Scrap Together Program is awarding $164,640 to four projects covering 11 councils with existing food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection services. The funding will support the delivery of educational resources such as posters and videos to increase awareness, reduce contamination, and help households make the most of FOGO recycling.
These grants are just the start, with an additional $8.4 million in grant funding also now available for public land managers, community groups and councils.
Applications are now open for:
Illegal Dumping Prevention Grants – $1.4 million for public land managers, regional waste groups and councils to prevent the environmental and health impacts of illegal dumping in public places. Round two applications close from 7 March 2024.
Local Government Waste Solutions Fund – $3 million to help councils and regional groups in the waste levy area develop transformative waste and recycling projects or solutions to reduce waste sent to landfill, keep materials in use for longer, and establish a circular economy. Round two applications close 15 March 2024.
Litter Prevention Grants Program – $4 million to support councils, regional and community groups, and government agencies to undertake litter prevention projects and develop strategic plans to manage the issue in their local environments. Expression of interests for this the third intake of the program close 8 March 2024.
For information about grants and how to apply, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants.
Quote attributable to Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe:
“Litter and illegal dumping profoundly impact our parks, waterways and communities and the NSW Government is taking significant action to address this issue.
“Whether it’s keeping our streetscapes free of litter or helping councils develop revolutionary recycling strategies – our grants play an important part in achieving our targets to reduce all littered items by 60% by 2030 and plastic littered items by 30% by 2025.
“These Grants do make a difference. The Litter Prevention Grants Program alone has seen an average 70 per cent reduction in litter at past project sites.
“We look forward to engaging with communities, state agencies and councils and seeing more great ideas to further assist our progress towards a circular economy.”