Funding up to $400,000 to support innovative waste and recycling solutions designed in collaboration with partners to achieve impactful projects with long-term outcomes in NSW.
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
What is the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund (LGWS)?
The Local Government Waste Solutions (LGWS) Fund is available to local councils and regional waste groups in the waste levy paying area. The fund will support waste and recycling solutions that contribute to achieving the priorities and targets identified in the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 and the NSW Plastics Action Plan.
LGWS level of support
Grants
- Minimum amount – not indicated
- Individual council maximum funding limit – $200,000
- Regional waste group or a collaboration of local councils maximum funding limit – $400,000
- A project must involve at least two local councils from the levy-paying area to be eligible for the maximum funding limit of $400,000
Co-contribution
- Financial co-contribution to the project is not an essential requirement. However, applications that demonstrate financial and/or in-kind contributions will be assessed more favourably.
LGWS important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
LGWS objectives and outcomes
The Local Government Waste Solutions Fund aims to
- support NSW local councils, collaborations of councils, and regional waste groups in the levy paying areas to deliver innovative waste and recycling solutions to their communities that support transition towards a circular economy and contribute to achieving the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets
- facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnerships to help NSW local councils transition to a circular economy and have long-term impacts
- help local councils share the findings and resources of funded projects.
The Local Government Waste Solutions Fund will support innovative waste and recycling solutions that contribute to achieving at least one of the priorities and targets identified in the WaSM strategy and the NSW Plastics Action Plan. The eligible priorities and targets are:
- reduce total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030
- have an 80% average recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030
- halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030
- net zero emissions from organic waste by 2030
- litter reduction target of 60% by 2030
- plastic litter reduction target of 30% by 2025
- triple the plastics recycling rate by 2030
- phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025
- significantly increase the use of recycled content by governments and industry
- reduce illegal dumping.
Projects and expenditure eligible for LGWS support
The Local Government Waste Solutions Fund will support innovative waste and recycling solutions that are scalable and contribute to the priorities and targets in the WaSM strategy and the NSW Plastics Action Plan. For the purposes of this fund, ‘innovation’ is defined as the practical application of ideas that result in something that is new, unique or adds value to an existing solution. For example, innovation projects could be ones that involve applying new processes, methodologies or techniques, or which build on previous ideas or programs to create additional value.
To be eligible for funding under the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund, projects must be able to contribute to achieving at least one of the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets and be measurable.
Local Government Waste Solutions projects can be delivered by an individual or collaboration of local councils, individual or collaboration of regional waste groups.
All projects funded by the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund must be completed by end of 2026–27.
Project examples might include:
- designing out waste from the point of purchase
- supporting the sharing/re-use economy to increase the volume of materials re-used, repurposed, repaired or recycled, with improved value
- collaborating with organisations to identify circular economy opportunities on a local or regional scale and implement circular economy solutions
- trialling a service that decreases waste materials (such as glass, electronic waste, plastics, tyres, textiles) being sent to landfill while achieving social and economic outcomes for the community.
The fund can be used for innovation projects that contribute to achieving the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets. Project costs may include:
- collecting, transporting and processing costs of materials for re-use and/or diversion from landfill
- leasing or capital purchases (e.g. equipment, infrastructure)
- planning, feasibility studies, research and strategy development activities
- resourcing including consultants, contractors, project management, administration and/or implementation costs.
The fund cannot be used for:
- projects that have designated funding programs under the WaSM strategy and the NSW Plastics Action Plan
- projects that do not align with the objectives and policies of the Environment Protection Authority, WaSM strategy or the NSW Plastics Action Plan, and/or do not contribute to achieving the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets or cannot be measured or quantified.
- financial co-contribution to other grants, including, but not limited to, contestable grants being delivered under the WaSM strategy, the NSW Plastics Action Plan and other relevant strategies
- legal advice
- collection and transportation of materials that cannot be recycled or diverted from landfill (e.g. asbestos) or the clean-up of litter or illegally dumped materials
- ongoing delivery of pre-existing local council or regional waste group programs including those previously funded by the NSW EPA Better Waste and Recycling Fund
- works that will be or have been funded by other sources. However, additional funding from other sources may be used in tandem with the Waste Solutions Fund to enhance the outcomes of the project. Eligible organisations must state in their grant application if they have secured funding for the same project through another source. The applicant must justify and maintain any relevant project and funding boundaries.
See the guidelines for full details of projects and expenditure eligible for LGWS support.
Other LGWS important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for LGWS support
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
The following organisations are eligible to lead projects and apply for the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund grants:
- local councils that pay waste levies in the regulated area. These are the 42 councils in the metropolitan levy area (MLA) and the 19 councils in the regional levy area (RLA). The names of these councils are defined by the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation
- regional waste groups of councils in the Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions that are supported by the EPA Regional Coordination Support Program
- voluntary regional waste groups in the RLA, supported by the EPA Regional Coordination Support Program.
Organisations that are not eligible to apply for the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund grants may partner with an eligible organisation to deliver the project and in doing so, benefit from the project outcomes. However, the lead applicant must be an eligible organisation.
See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for LGWS support.
LGWS assessment criteria
Applications are assessed against the following criteria:
1. Robustness of the project (30% of total score)
- Is the project proposal supported by evidence?
- Does the solution address the issue or knowledge gap?
- Is the implementation plan sufficiently detailed and realistic?
- Is there a clear monitoring and evaluation plan, including measures of success?
- Are there risk management mechanisms in place?
2. Innovation (20% of total score)
- The extent to which the project or solution is new, unique or adds value to something that may already exist
3. Collaboration and building capacity for change (20% of total score)
How the project may involve, or how the applicant(s) may undertake, the following:
- Collaboration with other organisations such as industry, businesses, schools etc.
- Partnerships
- Knowledge sharing e.g. with other local councils and organisations
- Mentoring
- Networks
4. Project impact (20% of total score)
- Outcomes: how the project will contribute to achieving the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets, other additional outcomes or benefits (e.g. carbon abatement, economic, social)
- Scalability: the extent to which the project is of interest or value to other councils, localities and communities; the extent to which the project can be replicated, expanded or scaled up in the future
- Longevity: whether the benefits of the project will be sustained over the long term
5. Value for money (10% of total score)
- Predicted outcomes and outputs are proportionate to the funding amount requested and in-kind or other contributions
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
How do I get the LGWS?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
Information to prepare for the LGWS application
Prepare information such as the following:
- Applicant Full Name
- Applicant Primary Address
- Applicant Postal Address
- Applicant Primary Phone Number
- Applicant Email Address
- Applicant Website
- Applicant Organisation ABN
- Primary Contact Details
- Name of organisation leading project
- Project title
- Brief description
- Anticipated start and end date
- Project overview, stages, and activities
- Risk management description
- Strategic and Community Support documentation
- Project budget
- Project partners
- Building capacity description
- Project impact description
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the LGWS
Applications must be submitted to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) using the SmartyGrants platform.
Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this program and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
LGWS resources
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