Circular Economy Communities Fund
Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Communities Fund.
The Circular Economy Communities Fund will support local community initiatives that engage the community in local solutions for low-waste living. The initiatives need to deliver one or more of the following objectives:
- reduce waste generation
- reduce non-organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce the sources of plastic pollution, litter and illegal dumping
- boost Victoria’s economy through local circular economy initiatives, helping businesses to grow in new ways, and creating up new jobs.
These grants are part of the Recycling Victoria policy funding.
Applications close at 3:00 pm on Friday 19 March. The SmartyGrants application portal will also close at 3:00 pm on this date, and we are unable to accept late applications. Late applications will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Read about late submissions.
Guidelines
View the Guidelines.
Information bulletin
For our responses to questions not addressed on this page or in the guidelines, view the Information bulletin.
$1:$5
Eligible applicants
To apply, you must:
- be a community group, not-for-profit organisation, charity or social enterprise
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have been operating for a minimum of 2 years (if funding is more than $59,000)
- agree to the funding agreement terms and conditions:
- agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs.
Eligible projects
Your community-based project must boost Victoria’s economy through circular economy initiatives that reduce at least one of the following:
- waste generation
- non-organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- the sources of plastic pollution, litter and illegal dumping.
Projects must meet the following requirements:
- Projects must take place in and service Victoria.
- Stream 1: must be completed by 12 months of signing the funding agreement.
- Stream 2: must be completed by 18 months of signing the funding agreement.
You are encouraged to form collaborative relationships with other organisations to support the delivery of your project and maximise its impact in the community.
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply.
Co-Contribution
- Minimum contribution needs to be $1 to every $5 that is granted.
- Co-contribution can be provided as financial or in-kind contributions by the applicant, their partners. Up to 100% of the co-contribution can be in-kind.
Funding limits
- Stream 1 will provide grants between $25,000 and $59,000.
- Stream 2 will provide grants between $60,000 and $250,000.
Application process
- Read the program guidelines, which contains the assessment criteria and other important information.
- Read and accept the funding agreement terms and conditions:
- Read and understand the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs.
- To apply you’ll need to register an account with SmartyGrants. Once you’re logged in, click on Recycling Victoria Communities Fund to apply.
Timeline
Dates are subject to change.
Applications open: 3:00 pm, 8 January 2021
Applications close: 3:00 pm, 19 March 2021
Notification of outcome: Applicants will be notified in June 2021.
Funded project completion:
- Stream 1: must be complete by 12 months of signing the funding agreement.
- Stream 2: must be complete by 18 months of signing the funding agreement.
Background
Moving toward a circular economy
Australia has one of the largest material footprints in the world at 35 tonnes per person. That’s 10 tonnes (or 40%) higher than the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Chile.
While Victorians are committed recyclers, we need to think beyond what we put in our bins. We need to start to focus on what we buy, reuse and repair.
Every purchase we make can affect our environment. In a circular economy, we choose goods and services that use fewer resources. We reuse, repair, share and loan the things we already have. We buy second-hand. We buy products that are durable, repairable, recyclable or made from recycled materials.
These practices will:
- reduce cost of living pressures
- build local skills
- encourage social connections
- reduce the cost of managing waste
- create new business opportunities
- reduce our impact on the environment.
Circular economy practices are increasing, but it can be difficult for people to understand the environmental impacts of their purchases. We need greater awareness, information and access to alternative purchasing options to help Victorians make this change.
To support the transition, the Victorian Government released the Recycling Victoria policy in February 2020. By 2030, the policy aims to reduce:
- waste generation by 15% per capita
- organic waste to landfill by 50%.
The policy allocated funding to support Victorian communities to transition to circular economy practices. This grant aims to support local community groups, social enterprises, charities and not-for-profit organisations to reduce waste and improve recycling, through repair cafes and product-sharing schemes. Initiatives to tackle litter and illegal dumping will also be supported.
Read the Recycling Victoria policy.