Organics Collections

This round of the Organics Collections grant program supports the collection of food and garden organic waste from households.

This program is now open for applications, closing 23 July 2020.

Purpose

This 8-year $27 million program is aimed at redirecting food and garden waste to organics processing facilities. It complements our Organics Infrastructure – Organics Processing grant program, which funds the establishment of processing facilities.

In March 2020, an additional $12.5 million was announced for the Household Stream to support councils impacted by the EPA’s decision to no longer allow land application of Mixed Waste Organics Outputs (MWOO). A total of $16 million is available in this round, with $3.5 million of that available to non-affected councils.

The Organics Collections program funds

  • the introduction or expansion of green-lid bin services
  • kitchen caddies
  • education programs to support and encourage behaviour change
  • trial of organics collections services in multi-unit dwellings (MUDS).

Collection services funded under this program must:

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

This program is being delivered through a partnership between the NSW Environmental Trust and the Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability Division (ECCS, formerly EPA) of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Additional information can be found on the EPA website.

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

Funding available

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 were eligible if the trial ran for at least 8 months.

Who can apply?

The following organisations are eligible to apply:

  • individual NSW 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).
  • councils impacted by the Mixed Waste Organics Outputs (MWOO) decision are eligible for the $12.5 million pool available through the Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) Transition Package.
  • non-affected councils are eligible to apply for the remaining $3.5 million of the total $16 million available in this round.

When can applications be made?

This program is now open. All applications for the 2020 round of the program are to be made via the Trust's new online Grants Management System (GMS). Please refer to the section below.

We recommend that you read the application guidelines and the GMS online portal user manual before completing your online application.

Online Grants Management System

The Grants Management System (GMS) has been purpose built to manage the whole of the grant process online, from application through to grant acquittal and project evaluation.

If your application for funding is successful, you will need to use the GMS to lodge documents related to the project such as work plans, variations, progress reports and final reports.

Log in or register for the GMS

The GMS will collect some information about your organisation. The Privacy Policy outlines how this information will be managed.

For further guidance on the GMS please download the Grants Management System Online Portal User Manual.

Project measures table

Grantees are sent their project measures table with their executed funding agreement. The project measures table helps you set the baseline for your project (its starting point), create targets and record progress. In this way 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 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 Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

You also need to use the NSW Government logo. See Funding acknowledgement and logos for details.

  • In 2019 a total of $780,043 was awarded to 3 projects under the Business Stream.
  • In 2019 a total of $1,219,882 was awarded to 2 councils under the Household Stream.
  • In 2018 a total of $369,420 was awarded to 3 projects under the Business Stream.
  • In 2018 a total of $4,562,966 was awarded to 7 councils under the Household Stream.
  • In 2017 a total of $2,011,127 was awarded to 7 councils.
  • In 2016 a total of $1,656,231 was awarded to 4 councils.
  • In 2015 a total of $3,514,306 was awarded to 7 councils.
  • In 2014 a total of $5,805,566 was awarded to 10 councils.
  • In 2013 a total of $6,519,811 was awarded to 21 councils.

Project summaries