Circular Economy Councils Fund
Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund.
The Circular Economy Councils Fund is a 4-year program which supports local government and alpine resort management boards to reduce waste to landfill and transition towards a circular economy.
Grants focus on local and regional circular economy projects which:
- decrease the volume of waste to landfill
- increase the volume of material reused, repaired, repurposed or recycled
- increase circular economy activity, which also stimulates local employment and economic growth.
There are 2 streams of funding available in year one:
- Stream 1: Feasibility – Enabling applicants to explore localised circular economy solutions.
- Stream 2: Implementation – For applicants who have completed a feasibility study or have ‘shovel-ready’ project proposals with a proven business case.
These grants are part of the funding from the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.
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:$1
Eligible applicants
To apply, you must:
- be a Victorian local government authority or an alpine resort management board
- co-contribute $1:$1 at a minimum
- agree to comply with the funding agreement terms and conditions:
- agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs.
Eligible projects
Your project must:
- take place in or service Victoria
- not have commenced or completed the project prior to signing the funding agreement.
Stream 1: Feasibility project must be complete within 6 months of signing the funding agreement.
Stream 2: Implementation project must be complete within 2 years of signing the funding agreement.
Co-Contribution
$1:$1
Funding limits
Stream 1: Feasibility – Enabling applicants to explore localised circular economy solutions.
- Individual application: up to $20,000 to scope project viability and establish business case for project ideas to be implemented in the future.
- Collaborative partnerships: up to $80,000 for a collaborative project between councils and/or alpine resort management boards.
Stream 2: Implementation – Enabling applicants to implement circular economy projects that have a feasibility study or evidence the project is ready to implement.
- Individual application: between $80,000 and $250,000 for applicants with business case-ready projects.
- Collaborative partnership: up to $500,000 is available to applicants that partner with one or more councils and/or alpine resort management boards to undertake an implementation project.
Collaborative partnerships can be made up of councils and/or alpine resort management boards. They do not need to be located in the same regional area.
Applicants who undertake a feasibility study in year 1, will ideally use this study to inform their application for an implementation project in years 2 to 4 of the funding.
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 Smarty Grants. Once you’re logged in, click on Recycling Victoria Councils Fund to apply.
Timeline
Dates are subject to change.
Applications open: 3:00 pm, 8 January 2021
Information session: 9 February 2021
Applications close: 3:00 pm, 19 March 2021
Notification of outcome: Applicants will be notified in June 2021.
Funded project completion:
- Stream 1: Feasibility projects must be completed within 6 months of signing the funding agreement.
- Stream 2: Implementation projects must be completed within 2 years of signing the funding agreement.
Background
Victoria, like many other states and nations, exports large amounts of recycled materials. Approximately 1.27 million tonnes of paper, plastic and cardboard each year is sent to overseas markets such as China and Malaysia. This includes 30% of all recycling collected from Victorian households.
In 2018, China placed and enforced strict contamination thresholds on its import of recycled materials. This caused widespread disruptions to global recycling markets – including our own.
Recycling Victoria represents the Victorian Government’s action plan to reform our waste and recycling system over the next decade. Beyond recycling, this shift will ultimately transform Victoria’s economy.
This grants program sits under Goal 2: Use products for more value, of the Recycling Victoria policy. Under this goal, the Victorian government has committed to reducing total waste generation by 15% per capita between 2020 and 2030.
Our vision for Victoria is a circular economy where products are made to last and waste is avoided. A circular economy fosters innovation and invigorates existing businesses and creates new ones. It delivers more jobs and growth for local, regional, state and global economies.
Read the Recycling Victoria policy.