Grants up to $500,000 to establish or enhance business circular economy networks for member businesses sharing location, supply chain, industry sector or specific waste materials.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
- An overview of Bin Trim Networks Program (BTNP) grants funding
- Every detail you need to know
- Resources and help to get the grant
What is the Bin Trim Networks Program (BTNP)?
The Bin Trim Networks Program (BTNP) will fund targeted networks to reduce commercial and industrial waste and develop circular economy opportunities.
Targeted networks will comprise member businesses that share characteristics, such as location, supply chain, industry sector or specific waste materials. Addressing waste issues strategically in relation to business groups aims to multiply benefits, increase the viability of sustainable outcomes for the whole business network, and enable systemic and structural change.
The primary target audience for business participation in networks is small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but larger organisations can be involved, especially where their participation enables solutions that benefit SMEs.
Grant funds will support network facilitators to manage the network and support collaboration, training and information sharing. Businesses that participate in the program may be eligible to apply for financial assistance to purchase equipment and/or technology that assists with waste reduction and recycling through the Equipment Rebates program.
BTNP level of support
Grants
- $150,000 to $500,000
- Maximum $300,000 for projects of up to two years’ duration
- Maximum $500,000 for projects of up to three years’ duration
- Maximum 100% of eligible project expenditure
Co-contribution
- Not required but viewed favourably during the assessment process
BTNP important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
BTNP important details that you will need to know
BTNP objectives and outcomes
The BTNP aims to:
- establish or enhance business circular economy networks where member businesses have commonalities relating to location, supply chain, sector or waste types
- identify and explore opportunities to reduce waste, increase recycling and implement circular economy solutions across the networks
- build the capacity of individuals and businesses to transition to a circular economy
- support businesses to apply for equipment rebates
The eligible outcomes for projects under the program are:
- reducing total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030
- achieving an 80% average recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030
- making the most of our plastic resources by supporting innovation
- tripling the plastics recycling rate by 2030
- phasing out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025
- halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030
- significantly increasing the use of recycled content by governments and industry
Organisations eligible for BTNP support
To be eligible you must:
- have an ABN
and be one of the following:
- an Australian entity or partnership incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
- not-for-profit organisation with an established legal status
- industry associations or peak body
- product stewardship group
- government agency and organisation, and/or government-owned/controlled entity
- a consortium of any of the above
Applicants may apply individually or choose to deliver the project through a partnership and/or by using subcontractors. Organisations applying for funding as a partnership must nominate an eligible lead applicant who will be responsible for the financial management and administration of the project.
Any organisation can be the lead applicant for only one grant application per intake of the program. Multiple applications from the same lead organisation will not be considered. As well as being lead applicant for one grant application, an organisation may be a project partner in up to two additional grant applications per intake.
Applicants and/or their project partners are required to have demonstrated experience and existing SME connections in the region or sector on which the network is focused, or expertise with the target material.
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth)
- an individual
- a partnership
- an unincorporated association
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth entity
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible organisations.
Projects eligible for BTNP support
The 2022–23 funding round will give priority to projects:
- targeting food waste, plastics or textiles, where the primary target material is expected to account for at least 50% of the waste avoidance, waste reduction or recycling outcomes of the project
- targeting actions higher on the waste hierarchy (e.g., waste avoidance or re-use above recycling)
- supporting the transition away from problematic, unnecessary and single-use plastics
- supporting the introduction of mandatory food-waste collections from targeted businesses, commencing in 2025
Projects which do not address the priority outcomes above are still eligible to apply if they meet other eligibility criteria and contribute to the eligible outcomes.
To be eligible for funding, proposed projects must:
- contribute to the objectives and targets of the WaSM Strategy and/or the Plastics Action Plan and/or the Waste Delivery Plan
- support circular economy and waste solutions in a targeted network, defined around commonalities relating to location, supply chain, sector or waste materials
- result in avoidance, re-use or recycling of waste generated by the C&I sector in NSW
- engage and assess over 50 SMEs (proportional to the scale of the project)
- have no more than 10% of businesses participating in the network located outside NSW, where participation of these businesses is key to project success
- have the majority of project operations in NSW so as to provide economic benefits in NSW
- integrate effective and transparent monitoring and review processes
- have confirmed project partners (if applicable) with evidence of support
- not result in long-term stockpiling of any materials
- ensure that any new materials and resources developed include acknowledgement of EPA funding, meet the requirements of the EPA style guide and are approved by the EPA
- be a new project, service or activity
- promote an ethical use of public resources and provide value for money
See the guidelines for full details of eligible projects.
Expenditure eligible for BTNP support
Funding is available for project-related costs including:
- administration of the grant project (maximum 10% of project budget)
- management of the grant project, including establishing and coordinating the network
- consultation and exploration of opportunities for collaboration among network members
- development and delivery of tools, resources, events etc. to build the network and the capacity of network members
- Bin Trim assessments in line with the Bin Trim Roadmap (typically not expected to exceed 50% of project budget)
- purchase of small equipment for businesses participating in the network and undertaking Bin Trim waste assessments eg. source separation bins, signage (maximum 10% of project budget
Funding cannot be used for:
- projects that do not align with relevant objectives and policies
- projects that do not contribute to achieving the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets
- projects not primarily targeted at reducing waste generated by C&I sources in NSW
- financial co-contribution to other grants
- ongoing maintenance of projects or programs to which organisations have committed as part of a previous grant, or their core business operations
- legal advice
- collection and transportation of materials that cannot be recycled/diverted from landfill e.g. asbestos, clean-up of litter or illegally dumped materials
- diversion of virgin excavated natural material or excavated natural material
- diversion of liquid or gaseous wastes
- waste-to-sewer activities
- energy-from-waste activities
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.
Information to prepare for the BTNP application
The application form will require details about your proposed project including, but not limited to:
- contact details for lead organisation and (if applicable) project partner organisations
- project title and summary (100 words)
- project description, including:
- the network focus (region, precinct, supply chain, sector or material), the businesses the project will target, and the existing connection that the applicant or project partners have with these businesses
- how the network will be established/enhanced and managed
- key opportunities for waste reduction, recycling and circular economy solutions in the
- proposed network and the participating businesses
- how Bin Trim assessments will be conducted and how these will be integrated into planning collaborative solutions across the network
- tools, resources and training the project will develop and deliver for the network
- how the project will provide long-term and/or replicable solutions for increased impact
- predicted outcomes and outputs (using the project measures table provided in the application form)
- monitoring and evaluation (using the table provided in the application form)
- timeline (using the table provided in the application form)
- risk assessment (using the table provided in the application form)
- budget (using the project expenditure summary in the application form)
- relevant experience and capability of the lead organisation and partner organisations
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the BTNP
Applications are submitted online via the SmartyGrants portal.
Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to increase your chances of success.
BTNP assessment criteria
| Ref | Criteria |
| 1 | Innovation – project is new, unique or adds significant value to an existing solution – project leads to new products and/or services supporting a circular economy – sound methodology for identifying the network and recruiting and engaging with businesses – demonstrated partner support |
| 2 | Impact – significance of outcomes – replicability, scalability and longevity |
| 3 | Demonstrated need – addresses priorities and targets – scale of problem/opportunity is evident – appropriateness of solution is evident |
| 4 | Benefit to circular economy – application of circular economy principles – broader community benefits |
| 5 | Capability – capability of applicant and partners to deliver – established connection to target SMEs – necessary skills to provide network coordination and advice and carry out Bin Trim assessments – appropriate project description, budget and risk assessment |
| 6 | Value for money – consideration of impact, benefits, funding request and co-contributions |
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment.
BTNP resources
How do I get the BTNP?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Successful projects will include all of the following components:
- identification of partners/stakeholders and option for co-design where possible to ensure engagement, collaboration and best project outcomes
- a strong rationale for the initial project plan, including how the project will contribute to government targets and broader objectives, with expected outcomes and benefits and how these will be measured
- a plan for establishment and coordination of the network focused on waste reduction and circular economy opportunities, including clear roles, responsibilities, engagement and communication plans
- Bin Trim assessments for most or all businesses in the network, conducted by assessors trained by the EPA using the Bin Trim app, and including all steps in the Bin Trim Roadmap
- expected costs and benefits of the project, which must be demonstrated, and can include economic, social, environmental and cultural considerations
- identification of risks and a proposed risk management plan
- reporting measures and methodology for ongoing monitoring and evaluation
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