Circular Economy Councils Fund

The Circular Economy Councils Fund was 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.

These grants were part of the funding from the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.

Over the 4-year program, aggregating all funded projects, we expected to see:

• 6,000 tonnes waste to landfill reduction (3,000t organic; 3,000t non-organic)
• 20,000 tonnes increase in processing capacity (10,000t organic; 10,000t non-organic)
• up to 40 new jobs (30 temporary; 10 permanent)
• improved markets for recovered materials ($300,000 added value).

Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund.

Funded projects

Read more about funded projects from this funding.

View outcome reports from some of these funded projects.

Round 1

There were 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 had completed a feasibility study or have ‘shovel-ready’ project proposals with a proven business case.

Applications closed on 19 March 2021.

Funding

Up to $500,000 per grant.

Round 2

Round 2 supported councils and Alpine Resort Management Boards (ARMBs) in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill or increasing the volume of materials reused, repaired, repurposed or recycled.

Grants were funded through the government’s circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.

It was distributed through 2 streams:

• Stream 1: Feasibility – Supporting exploring circular economy solutions, scope project viability or establish business cases for future circular economy projects.
• Stream 2: Implementation – Supporting implementing circular economy projects with a proven business case.

Applications closed on:

• 9 December 2021 for stream 1
• 12 May 2022 for stream 2.

Funding

• Stream 1: Between $20,000 and $80,000 per project (depends on number of organisations).
• Stream 2: Between $80,000 and $250,000 for an individual application; between $80,000 and $500,000 for a group application.

Round 3

Round 3 was the final funding round. It was funded through the government’s Circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.

Applications closed on 31 March 2023.

Funding

Round 3 provided grants between $30,000 - $500,000 for either individual councils (including Alpine Resorts managed by Alpine Resort Victoria) or collaborative partnerships of councils.