NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Waste Less Recycle More (WLRM) Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding
Details of the next round of the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s Waste Less Recycle More (WLRM) Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding have been released.
The WLRM Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding is part of the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More program which provides $802 million over 8 years to stimulate new investment and transform waste and recycling in NSW.
The $802 Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding is funded from the NSW Waste Levy. The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 requires certain licensed waste facilities in NSW to pay a contribution for each tonne of waste received at the facility. Referred to as the ‘waste levy’, the contribution aims to reduce the amount of waste being land-filled and promote recycling and resource recovery.
The key drivers behind the Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding is the protection of the environment and human health from inappropriate use of waste (Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997) and promoting waste avoidance and facilitate greater resource recovery in NSW (Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001).
To-date, the program has awarded $292 million over 822 projects and have positive social and economic benefits.
New grants and funding are available with a $337 million extension from 2017–21.
Over $168M is available under the Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding.
The key Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Grant funding programs are summarised below.
Major Resource Recovery Infrastructure Program
Grant applications open on Thursday 14 September 2017
The objective of this grant is to reduce the amount of waste disposed to landfill in NSW by accelerating and stimulating investment in new resource recovery infrastructure.
Resource Recovery Facility Expansion and Enhancement Grants Program
Grant applications open at the end of September 2017.
This grant aims to increase the amount of waste materials recycled in NSW by accelerating and stimulating investment in recycling infrastructure at existing facilities.
Enhancement projects include projects that will involve changes to an existing sorting or recovery facility that will increase the recovery of waste materials. Expansion projects involves an increase in processing capacity of an existing plant. This grant focuses on priority wastes such as:
- Expanded or enhanced infrastructure for industry, household and business waste
- Paper, glass, metals, tyres, rubber
- Wood/timber including Copper Chrome Arsenic (CCA) treated timber and other treated timbers
- Plastics
- Cardboard and consumer packaging
- E-waste
- Plasterboard and other construction and demolition (C&D) wastes excluding asbestos and contaminated waste.
- Processing / stabilisation of residual waste
Weighbridge Fund
Grant applications open at the end of September 2017
The objective of this grant is to support recycling facilities and landfills that meet the eligibility criteria to install weighbridges, in order to facilitate the collection and payment of the waste and environment levy. Waste and recycling facilities in the waste levy areas and licensed landfills outside of the waste levy area are eligible to apply.
Civil Construction Markets grants
Grant applications open at the end of October 2017.
The objective of this grant is to fund local government, consultants, contractors and waste service providers who can divert construction and demolition (C&D) waste from landfill through reuse, recycling and industrial ecology projects in the NSW civil construction sector.
Circulate, Industrial Ecology grant program
Grant applications open late 2017
The objective of this grant is to facilitate the transfer of waste from one organisation to be used as an input for another.
Contact us for more information on eligibility, reporting requirements and the application process.
Hi there,
My name is Thomas and I am looking at starting a new business recycling crushed glass from industrial factories and from used glass bottles To prevent crushed glass going to landfill. Currently Australia uses 1.63 millions tonnes of glass packaging per year, with a large part ending up in landfill. Not only will my project prevent such materials going to landfill but it will also put recycled materials back into the productive economy by supplying the crushed glass to pool companies for pool filtration and to abrasive blasters for blast media. Reusing broken glass will save energy, money and money as an alternative to producing new glass and will promote economic growth through competitively priced materials.
Thank you for your time
Kindest regards,
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
This is a great initiative. I would love to hear more about your project. Get in touch and we can have a chat about it.
Regards,
Rylan
Hello
Is this program still active? I am very interested in establishing a plant for the sorting and recycling of waste plastics within the greater Sydney area. Any inpu from WLRM would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely
Cameron
Hi Cameron,
Shoot through your details to rylan@opterra.com.au and we can discuss. Check out https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/waste-less-recycle-more to see what programs are still active and where funding is being focused. Are you looking to adopt innovative waste management technology?