Organics Collections

The Organics Collections grants program supports the collection of food and garden organic waste from households and businesses.

This program is now open to applications. Applications close 3pm Thursday, 27 June 2019.

Purpose

This $10 million program is aimed at redirecting food and garden waste to organics processing facilities. It complements our Organics Infrastructure – Organics Processing grants program, which funds such facilities.

The Organics Collections program funds

  • the introduction or expansion of green-lid bin services
  • kitchen caddies
  • education programs to change behaviour.

Collection services funded under this program must:

  • collect waste that was currently going to landfill
  • transport the waste to a licensed treatment facility (e.g. for conversion to compost or to generate energy).

We’re delivering the program in partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) under the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

Up to 2017 this program was called the Local Government Organics Collection Systems (LGOCS) grants program.

Funding available

There are 2 funding streams.

Business stream

Grants of between $10,000 and $500,000 are available to cover up to 50% of costs relating to organics collection services to businesses.

Household stream

Grants up to $1.3 million are available for the introduction of new kerbside organics collection services to households (including multi-unit dwellings). These can be new services or expanded ones. Trial collection services in multi-unit dwellings are eligible if the trial runs for at least 8 months.

Who can apply?

Both streams (businesses and households)

Grants can be made to:

  • individual New South Wales councils (as defined in the Local Government Act 1993)
  • regional waste groups, regional organisations of councils and joint organisations of councils. These groups can apply for grants or coordinate projects on behalf of one or more of their member councils.

Business stream only

Grants can be made to:

  • waste and recycling collection providers
  • large businesses with multiple sites in a small geographic area, where each site generates large quantities of food waste
  • property owners and managers who control the waste and resource-recovery services to commercial or mixed residential and commercial premises.

Examples of joint applications

We encourage joint applications. Examples include:

  • councils working with their waste-service provider to establish a way of promoting and coordinating commercial waste collections as part of existing household collections
  • councils working together on regional solutions
  • large waste generators and commercial property owners working with waste-service providers to establish new long-term organics separation and collection systems
  • waste-service providers working with Bin Trim assessors to carry out a waste assessment and develop an action plan for a business.

When can applications be made?

Program is currently open to applications.

 

Project measures table

Use one of the 3 forms below to help you set the baseline for your project (its starting point), create targets and record progress, so that you can quickly check how you’re tracking and record your achievements.

You’ll need to update and submit the project measures table every time you report on your project’s progress.

Progress reports and final report

As you move through your project you’ll have to submit milestone (progress) reports. These will outline what you’ve achieved and what you’ll do next.

Milestone reports are reviewed by technical experts who ensure you’re on the right track and give you feedback or advice. After your report is reviewed and accepted we’ll pay your next grant instalment.

When your project finishes you’ll have to submit a final report that says what it has achieved.

Use the milestone report form (DOCX 75KB) and final reporting form (DOCX 75KB) for these reports.

Financial reports

You must submit a statement of expenditure (XLSX 16KB) with all your milestone reports. You also need to submit a certified financial report as part of your final report.

Other documents

You may also have to submit some other documents or evidence. They’ll be listed in the grant agreement we send you.

Where to send reports

Email reports and other documents to waste.recycling@environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au (50MB limit).

Acknowledgement requirement

Please acknowledge the funding you’ve received from the Trust in all publications and materials related to your project. We ask that you say:

This project was supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

You also need to use the logos of the NSW Government and the NSW Environment Protection Authority. See Funding acknowledgement and logos for details.

  • In 2018, a total of $369,420 under the Business Stream was allocated to 3 projects.
  • In 2018, a total of $4,562,966 under the Household Stream was allocated to 7 councils.
  • In 2017 (round 5) a total of $2,011,127 was awarded to 7 councils.
  • In 2016 (round 4) a total of $1,656,231 was awarded to 4 councils.
  • In 2015 (round 3) a total of $3,514,306 was awarded to 7 councils.
  • In 2014 (round 2) a total of $5,805,566 was awarded to 10 councils.
  • In 2013 (round 1) a total of $6,519,811 was awarded to 21 councils.