Major funding to support councils to develop, expand and improve waste diversion and recycling facilities that contribute to Queensland’s waste reduction and resource recovery targets.
Current status of program
Opening Soon
Applications are expected to open soon.
To register your interest in seeking our assistance with applying, please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is the Resource Recovery Boost Fund (RRBF)?
The Queensland Government’s Resource Recovery Boost Fund (RRBF) is a major investment designed to strengthen resource recovery and recycling infrastructure across Queensland.
The program supports councils to develop, expand and improve waste diversion and recycling facilities that contribute to Queensland’s waste reduction and resource recovery targets.
The fund focuses on delivering measurable recycling outcomes, reducing waste sent to landfill, increasing material recovery rates and supporting the development of critical recycling infrastructure throughout Queensland.
Resource Recovery Boost Fund level of support
Stream 1 – Small Projects
- Minimum funding: Not specified
- Maximum funding: Up to $2 million
- Total stream allocation: $20 million
Stream 2 – Major Projects
- Minimum funding: More than $2 million
- Maximum funding: Not specified
- Total stream allocation: $40 million
The Queensland Government has subsequently allocated additional funding, bringing the total program allocation to approximately $170 million to support future rounds of recycling infrastructure investment.
Standard Applicant Contribution Requirements
For most councils:
- Minimum applicant contribution: 40% of total project costs
Remote Council Contribution Requirements
For councils classified as remote:
Small Projects
- Minimum applicant contribution: 10%
Major Projects
- Minimum applicant contribution: 15%
Other Contribution Information
Applicant contributions may include:
- Direct financial contributions
- Eligible in-kind contributions
- Certain retrospective expenditure incurred after 1 May 2025 that directly relates to project delivery
Partnership projects may use alternative contribution arrangements where appropriate. Applicants proposing a lower contribution than the standard requirement may still be considered but must provide strong justification.
Resource Recovery Boost Fund important dates
- This program is opening soon
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Resource Recovery Boost Fund objectives and priorities
The Resource Recovery Boost Fund aims to:
- Support Queensland councils to address local, regional and statewide waste management priorities
- Increase diversion of waste from landfill
- Improve resource recovery outcomes across Queensland
- Establish new recycling and resource recovery infrastructure
- Expand and enhance existing recycling facilities
- Increase recycling capacity and processing capability
- Improve material recovery rates
- Support Queensland’s waste reduction and recycling targets
- Deliver regional and statewide economic and environmental benefits
- Encourage collaboration between councils and industry partners
Priority may be given to projects that:
- Are ready to commence within six months of funding agreement execution
- Involve partnerships between multiple councils
- Include private sector collaboration
- Deliver significant regional benefits
Projects and expenditure eligible for Resource Recovery Boost Fund support
The fund supports projects that establish, improve or expand resource recovery and recycling infrastructure.
Examples include:
- Construction of new recycling facilities
- Expansion of existing recycling infrastructure
- Resource recovery centre upgrades
- Materials recovery facility improvements
- Waste transfer station upgrades
- Recycling hub development
- Resource sorting infrastructure
- Material processing infrastructure
- Resource recovery precincts
- Mobile recycling infrastructure
- Re-use and recycling systems
- Infrastructure that increases recovery of recyclable materials
- Projects that improve diversion of waste from landfill
- Infrastructure supporting processing and recovery of additional material streams
The program specifically targets projects that provide measurable material recovery outcomes and long-term recycling benefits.
Business Cases
Limited funding may be available for business cases where they directly support future infrastructure investment decisions and project development.
Ineligible Expenditures and Activities
Examples of activities that are not eligible include:
- Stand-alone waste audit projects
- Projects related solely to Container Refund Points
- Activities that may be eligible under other Queensland Government waste funding programs
- Costs incurred prior to 1 May 2025
- Activities that do not deliver measurable material recovery outcomes
- Projects that do not align with the program’s infrastructure focus
Applicants should carefully review the program guidelines for the full list of ineligible activities and expenditure.
Other Resource Recovery Boost Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations and locations eligible for Resource Recovery Boost Fund support
Eligible applicants include:
- Individual Queensland councils
- Groups of Queensland councils
- Regional Organisations of Councils (ROCs)
- Councils of Mayors
- Representative entities established to represent Queensland councils
Additional partnership arrangements are permitted with:
- Other councils
- Private sector organisations
- Industry partners
- Other relevant project stakeholders
Where a partnership application is submitted, an eligible council-based organisation must act as the lead applicant.
Private businesses cannot apply directly but may participate as project partners.
Resource Recovery Boost Fund assessment criteria
Applications are assessed competitively against four weighted criteria.
1. Alignment with Program Objectives (40%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong alignment with RRBF objectives
- Contribution to Queensland waste reduction priorities
- Increased resource recovery capability
- Improved recycling outcomes
- Measurable landfill diversion outcomes
- Long-term environmental benefits
- Development of critical recycling infrastructure
2. Value for Money (25%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Efficient use of grant funding
- Appropriate project costs
- Strong return on investment
- Sustainable operational outcomes
- Financial viability of the project
- Evidence that funding will generate significant material recovery outcomes
- Appropriate risk management
3. Regional and Community Benefit (25%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Benefits for regional and remote Queensland communities
- Increased recycling accessibility
- Support for local resource recovery systems
- Job creation opportunities
- Economic development outcomes
- Benefits across multiple council areas where relevant
- Improved community participation in recycling
- Positive environmental outcomes
Priority consideration may be given to projects that:
- Deliver benefits to regional or remote Queensland
- Support multiple council areas
- Increase local resource recovery capacity
- Support local businesses and industry
- Deliver broad community benefits
4. Project Management and Governance (10%)
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong project governance arrangements
- Appropriate project management capability
- Delivery experience
- Effective risk management processes
- Financial management capability
- Partner governance arrangements where applicable
- Ability to complete the project within required timeframes
How do I get the Resource Recovery Boost Fund support?
To maximise the likelihood of receiving funding, applicants should demonstrate:
- A clear and measurable increase in resource recovery outcomes
- Strong alignment with Queensland waste reduction objectives
- Significant landfill diversion benefits
- Clear evidence of recycling and material recovery improvements
- Well-developed project planning and governance arrangements
- Strong value for money outcomes
- Appropriate co-contribution commitments
- Regional, economic and community benefits
- Capacity to deliver the project successfully
- Evidence-based forecasting of project outcomes
- Strong stakeholder and partner support
- Readiness to commence delivery within six months of approval
- Long-term sustainability of project outcomes
Information to prepare for the Resource Recovery Boost Fund support
Applicants should prepare:
- Detailed project description
- Project scope and delivery plan
- Capital works and infrastructure details
- Project budget
- Evidence supporting project outcomes
- Resource recovery and recycling projections
- Governance arrangements
- Risk management information
- Financial information
- Co-contribution details
- Partner information
- Letters of commitment from project partners
- Supporting technical studies where available
- Feasibility studies or business cases (optional but beneficial)
Applying for the Resource Recovery Boost Fund support
Applications are submitted through the Queensland Government’s SmartGrants system.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Resource Recovery Boost Fund resources
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