Illegal Dumping Prevention

We have made changes to the grants based on stakeholder feedback and an evaluation of previous grants. Round 2 will be different to Round 1 in these ways: 

• Stream 1b is being introduced to help entities that need support to build a business case for their ongoing illegal dumping prevention activities.
• Stream 2 supports new grantees to test approaches (up to $60,000) in managing illegal dumping projects, with Stream 2 assessed separately to streams 3 and 4. 
• A two-step application process has been introduced into stream 3 and 4. This process is explained in greater detail below.
• The need to target specific hotspots will be removed (for streams 3 and 4) to allow for projects to include research, engagement and/or behaviour change.
• There will also be the option of taking up to 2 years to deliver these projects to enable retention of staff, better data collection and to improve the impact of project activities.
• A new stream with higher funding to support collaborative cross-tenure illegal dumping projects (Stream 4). Acknowledging that a collaborative project takes longer to set up and to deliver, the time allocated to this will be extended to up to 2 years.  

It is important to understand what the Illegal Dumping Prevention Program grants include in its scope, as well as what it does not include.

Before applying for any of the streams under the Illegal Dumping Prevention Program Round 2, please ensure you meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must be located in NSW and be one of the following:
  • a local council 
  • a grouping of councils such as a Joint Organisation or Regional Organisation of Councils, Regional Waste Group or
  • a state government public land manager. 
• Projects must be on publicly owned land, managed by a local council or a state government public land manager.
• Entities that are not councils or manage public can be involved as partners in projects, but funding under these grants cannot be used specifically for work on private land.

We aim to notify successful applicants within 2 months of the closing date. Successful applicants will need to send the following information before starting their project: 

• a project plan in a format supplied by the EPA
• a signed funding agreement
• an invoice for the first milestone payment.

See the details under each stream below for the grantee requirements.

Applications must be submitted to the EPA using the SmartyGrants platform. You will receive an acknowledgement of your application form after submission via SmartyGrants. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email, contact the Illegal Dumping Prevention team at illegaldumping.strategy@epa.nsw.gov.au to ensure your application has been received. 

Grant applications will be assessed against the selection criteria outlined in these guidelines. Well thought-out, innovative and collaborative projects that have the potential to have the highest project impact will be prioritised in the selection process.

Entities such as councils and council groups can be the lead applicant in only one application per stream. If multiple applications are submitted by an entity, only the first application submitted will be assessed.

For state government public land managers with regional offices, one application per regional office will be accepted. 

Applications will be assessed by a technical review committee (TRC). The committee will assess potential performance based on an applicant’s ability to meet selection criteria.

The TRC will rank the eligible applications during the assessment process. The TRC then makes recommendations to the EPA. The EPA Chief Executive Officer will make final funding decisions. 

We encourage any unsuccessful applicants to request feedback and consider re-applying in future funding opportunities. 

All funding is 100% contestable

A detailed timeline of Round 2 is outlined below.

Key information

Stream 1 grants under round 2 are now closed. Round 3 grants are anticipated to open mid 2025.

This stream provides funding either for establishing baseline data for dumping on publicly owned land OR for developing an illegal dumping business case.

Up to $20,000 was available per entity for projects to be completed within 12 months.

Applications closed on Friday 5 April 2024.

Stream 1a (Establishment of Illegal Dumping Baseline) project requirements

This stream is for applicants who want to establish an illegal dumping baseline and develop a brief Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategy for their LGA or area/region. The following rules apply:

• Clean up or disposal of illegal dumping will NOT be funded under this stream.
• For a council, the project must cover an entire LGA. Only single councils can apply, as it is important for each council to undertake their own data collection and develop their Illegal Dumping Strategy.
• Data collection is to run for 10-12 months and must target an entire jurisdiction (for example, a local government area if the applicant is a local council).
• Successful applicants must use the EPA RIDonline database as part of their project, including all data relating to project activities. Grantees must make sure that data is brought up to date in RIDonline at least every three months.
• Successful applicants must engage with EPA regularly and report on agreed milestones.
• Successful applicants must liaise with EPA on media or other promotion of the project and acknowledge the funding contribution made by EPA.
• Publicity materials (such as brochures, signage, advertising) produced for projects funded by the Illegal Dumping Prevention Program must be in line with EPA-developed Report Illegal Dumping branding and style guides.
• Up to 20% of the project budget can be used for installing signage or developing education materials to improve public reporting of illegal dumping.
• Grantees will be required to create a brief Illegal Dumping Strategy as part of this project.

Assessment criteria

Eligible applications will be assessed by a technical review committee against the following criteria:

• strength of the evidence of the illegal dumping problem and the need to capture baseline data (40% weighting)
• effectiveness and clarity of proposed methods for gathering high-quality illegal dumping data across the jurisdiction and use of RIDonline (30% weighting)
• appropriateness of budget and project value for money (30% weighting).

Application Process

Applications closed on Friday 5 April 2024. Applications were submitted via the EPA SmartyGrants platform.

Payment schedule

Payment of grant funding will be in 2 parts:

• Payment 1: 70% of grant funds will be paid upon receipt of a satisfactory project plan, signed funding agreement and an invoice.
• Payment 2: 30% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory final report including an illegal dumping prevention strategy and final financial report.

Stream 1b (Development of an illegal dumping business case) project requirements

This stream is for councils, groups of councils and state government public land managers that would like to develop a strong business case for sustained internal investment in illegal dumping prevention. We strongly encourage applicants with prior experience in running illegal dumping projects to consider this stream.  Funding of up to $10,000 per entity is available.

This stream is intended for entities with expertise in managing illegal dumping. They will need to demonstrate they have a baseline and understanding of their illegal dumping problem.

This stream will not cover clean-up or illegal dumping prevention activities.

Assessment criteria

Eligible applications will be assessed by a technical review committee against the following criteria:

• strength of the evidence of the illegal dumping problem, its size and complexity (40% weighting)
• effectiveness and clarity of proposed methods of developing the business case (30% weighting)
• appropriateness of budget expenditure (30% weighting).

Application process

Applications closed on Friday 5 April 2024. Applications were submitted via the EPA SmartyGrants platform.

Payment schedule

Payment of grant funding will be in 2 parts:

• Payment 1: 70% of grant funds will be paid upon receipt of a satisfactory project plan, signed funding agreement and an invoice.
• Payment 2: 30% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory illegal dumping prevention business case.

Key information

Stream 2 grants under round 2 are now closed. Round 3 grants are anticipated to open mid 2025.

Up to $60,000 was available per entity for projects to be completed within 12 months.

Applications closed on Friday 5 April 2024.

This stream is an introductory grant for the following entities:

• individual councils
• groups of councils eg ROCs, JOs, Regional Waste Groups
• state government public land managers 

This stream is designed to promote knowledge building and support trials and pilots for entities with limited experience in running illegal dumping projects.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• be able to provide illegal dumping baseline data for the past 12 months or longer, and
• have not received more than one grant over the last 3 rounds (Round 6 and 7 of Waste Less Recycle More, and Round 1 of Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy).

Project requirements

• Projects must include prevention measures to reduce the illegal dumping problem. The selection process will favour projects that show an integrated approach towards preventing and targeting illegal dumping (i.e. they use more than one of the approaches listed in the Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategy 2022- 2027).
• Applicants must provide baseline data on the illegal dumping problem within their jurisdiction (for example, within a local government area if the applicant is a local council). If there is no baseline data, please see Stream 1a Establishing illegal dumping baseline data.
• No more than three hotspot areas can be targeted per project.
• Spending on clean-up and disposal must not exceed 50% of total grant funding.
• Successful applicants must engage with EPA regularly and report on agreed milestones.
• Successful applicants must liaise with EPA regarding any media or other promotion of the project. They must acknowledge the funding contribution made by EPA. Any publicity materials (such as brochures, signage, advertising, social media posts) produced for projects funded by the grant must be in line with EPA-developed Report Illegal Dumping (RID) branding and style guides.
• Successful applicants must use the EPA RIDonline database as part of their project, including all data relating to project activities. Grantees must make sure that data is brought up to date in RIDonline at least every three months. 
• If any applicants are currently receiving EPA funding for illegal dumping initiatives, including but not limited to RID programs/squad, they should demonstrate how this project will complement the other funded initiatives.

Assessment criteria

Eligible applications will be assessed by a technical review committee against the following criteria:

• size and complexity of the illegal dumping problem, and how well is it demonstrated (40% weighting)
• effectiveness of proposed approaches to prevent illegal dumping across targeted area, their probable extent and longevity of impact, extent of collaboration with appropriate partners and stakeholders (30% weighting)
• probable longevity of the project’s impact (10% weighting)
• appropriateness of budget and project value for money – predicted outcomes and outputs are proportionate to the funding amount requested and in-kind or other contributions (10% weighting)
• robustness of project evaluation method (10% weighting).

Application process

Applications closed on Friday 5 April 2024. Applications were submitted via the EPA SmartyGrants platform.

Payment schedule

Payment of grant funding will be made in 3 parts:

• Milestone 1: 60% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory project plan, signed funding agreement and an invoice.
• Milestone 2: 20% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory progress report, financial report and an invoice.
• Milestone 3: 20% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory final project, final financial report and an invoice.

Key information

Stream 3 grants under round 2 are now closed. Round 3 grants are anticipated to open mid 2025.

Up to $120,000 was available per entity for projects to be completed within 12 or 24 months.

Expressions of Interest closed on Thursday 7 March 2024.

This stream is for major illegal dumping projects (bushland or kerbside) for the following entities:

• Individual councils and individual council groups eg ROCs, JOs, Regional Waste Groups
  • Applicants must have baseline data of the illegal dumping problem within the LGA, either in RIDonline or an alternative
• State government public land managers
  • Applicants must have baseline data of the illegal dumping problem in the project area 

Project requirements

• Projects must include strategic prevention measures to reduce the illegal dumping problem. The selection process will favour projects that show an integrated approach towards preventing and targeting illegal dumping, meaning they incorporate more than one approach to illegal dumping outlined in the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2022-2027.
• Projects must be planned to run either for 12 months or 24 months.
• Applicants must provide baseline data of the illegal dumping problem within their jurisdiction (for example, within a local government area if the applicant is a local council). If there is no baseline data, please see Stream 1a Establishing illegal dumping baseline data.
• Spending on clean-up and disposal must not exceed 50% of total grant funding.
• Successful applicants must liaise with EPA regarding media or other promotion of the project. They must acknowledge the funding contribution made by EPA. Any publicity materials (such as brochures, signage, advertising, social media posts) produced for projects funded by the grant must be in line with EPA-developed Report Illegal Dumping (RID) branding and style guides.
• Successful applicants must use the EPA RIDonline database as part of their project, including all data relating to project activities. Grantees must make sure that data is brought up to date in RIDonline at least every three months. 
• Applicants should describe how the project relates to:
  • the entity’s illegal dumping strategy (if there is one in place). 
  • any similar illegal dumping prevention projects/activities managed by the same or related entity.
• If any applicants are currently receiving EPA funding for illegal dumping initiatives, including but not limited to RID programs/squad, they should demonstrate how this project will complement the other funded initiatives.

Assessment criteria

Eligible applications will be assessed by a technical review committee against the following criteria:

• size and complexity of the illegal dumping problem, and how well is it demonstrated (40% weighting)
• effectiveness of proposed approaches to prevent illegal dumping across targeted area; their probable extent and longevity of impact; extent of collaboration with appropriate partners and stakeholders; extent of integration with RID squad/program (where applicable) (30% weighting)
• probable longevity of the project’s impact (10% weighting)
• appropriateness of budget and project value for money – predicted outcomes and outputs are proportionate to the funding amount requested and in-kind or other contributions (10% weighting)
• robustness of project evaluation method (10% weighting). 

Application process

A brief Expression of Interest (EOI) was submitted via the SmartyGrants platform. The EPA contacted applicants and discussed their EOIs between 11 and 21 March 2024. During the meeting, applicants discussed their proposals and asked questions about the grants. After the meeting, EPA invited applicants to submit a full application.

Expressions of Interest closed on Thursday 7 March 2024, and Full Applications on Friday 12 April 2024.

Payment schedule

Payment of grant funding will be made in three parts:

• Milestone 1: 60% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory project plan, signed funding agreement and an invoice.
• Milestone 2: 20% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory progress, financial report and an invoice.
• Milestone 3: 20% of grant funds will be paid on receipt of a satisfactory final project, final financial report and an invoice.

The following 13 grants have been awarded to councils and public land managers around NSW to help them prevent and clean up illegal dumping. The total amount funded is $714,561 as part of Round 2 of the Illegal Dumping Prevention Grants under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.

Recipients

The following 18 grants have been awarded to councils and public land managers around NSW to help them prevent and clean up illegal dumping. The total amount funded is just under $1.33 million, as part of Round 1 of the Illegal Dumping Prevention Grants, under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.

There were 7 rounds of the Illegal Dumping Clean-Up and Prevention Program Grants under Waste Less Recycle More funding.

See previous grant recipients.