Grants of between $50,000 and $1 million to support businesses, industry groups and associations in the development and implementation of new circular economy business models and practices that avoid waste generation in Victoria.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
What is the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
The Circular Economy Business Support Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria policy, which includes targets to reduce total waste generation by 15% per capita by 2030.
Action 1.2 of the policy is the delivery of this Fund to help businesses improve resource efficiency, reduce waste to landfill, increase recycling and reduce business costs.
Each round of the Fund may target different areas of the policy to support overall program delivery. Round 2 has a specific focus on waste avoidance and materials efficiency.
The Fund is distributed through two streams:
- Stream 1: Develop a circular economy business case
- Stream 2: Implement a circular economy business case
What is the level of support of the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Level of support:
- Stream 1 – Grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 per project,
- Stream 2 – Grants of between $50,000 and $1m per project. Projects that avoid over 500 tonnes of waste per annum can apply for a grant of $50,000 to $500,000. Projects that avoid over 7,500 tonnes of waste per annum can apply for a grant of $50,000 to $1m.
Co-contributions:
- The Lead Applicant and any Collaborative Partner(s) must together contribute at least $1 for every $1 funded (1:1 co-contribution)
- Other grants cannot be used for co-contribution.
- Only the Lead Applicant and any Collaborative Partners can make co-contributions. Other parties, including Delivery Partners, cannot make co-contributions.
Stream 1 co-contributions can be either financial (cash) or in-kind; however, at least 50% must be a cash contribution.
Stream 2 co-contributions must be financial (cash) only.
What are the important dates of the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
What are the objectives and outcomes of the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
The primary goal of this fund is to avoid waste in Victoria, which includes improved materials efficiency and upcycling. All projects must support this objective.
Projects that also create new direct jobs in Victoria will be viewed favourably.
What are the priority areas of the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Circular economy business models and practices are those that design out waste and pollution, extend the use of products and materials, and regenerate natural systems. They transform how we make and use products.
Round 2 of the Fund supports circular business models and practices that avoid waste in Victoria.
The circular economy business models supported by the fund include:
- Product Life Extension models that extend the useful life of products and materials, including:
- maintenance and repair: prevent breakages or fix issues
- refurbishment and remanufacturing: restoration of degraded products to ‘as new’
- re-use: products or materials are re-used as is, without further processing
- preparation for re-use: collect, check, clean, or repair waste products or components to be re-used without further processing
- resale: used or second-hand products are resold to avoid waste
- incentivised return: incentivising for the return of used products for re-use
- redistribution: collect and redistribute surplus products, often to improve social equality
- upgrades: improve products instead of replacing them.
- Sharing models that enable increased use of products by making possible shared use, access or ownership
- Product as a Service models that replace product ownership with services, often via a subscription service
- Resource Recovery models which are limited (in this fund) to those focused on upcycling pre-consumer food or textile waste.
The circular economy business practices supported by the fund include:
- Materials Efficiency: improved processes to reduce waste in the production of products and services
- Circular design and marketing: design and marketing to improve resource efficiency and extend the life and value of products and materials during their use phase, including certification schemes
- Product stewardship: taking responsibility for the product during the use phase
- Waste avoidance: practices that avoid waste of products and materials in the supply chain
- Circular economy enablers: supply or adoption of processes, technologies, training and advice.
How to get the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
You should read the relevant Stream 1 or Stream 2 guidelines in full, as well as the Information Bulletin.
Successful applicants will need to clearly address the ‘What’, ‘Who’ and ‘How’ of their project by demonstrating to the assessment committee that you have a clearly identified problem and solution with quantifiable outcomes, project management capability and capacity, specific milestones detailing tasks and deliverables, and appropriate implementation resources to successfully delivery the project in its entirety within the proposed project implementation timeline.
Projects that exceed minimum waste avoidance targets for each stream (see eligible projects below) will score higher on the ‘What’ criteria for funding.
You must be able to confirm a 1:1 co-contribution of at least 50% cash for Stream 1 funding and 100% cash for Stream 2 funding.
Applicants may apply as either as a single organisation or as a collaborative project with multiple organisations; however, each application must have a Lead Applicant. Applicants may establish collaborative relationships with other organisations (Collaborative Partners) as required to support project delivery.
Check out our How to Prepare Before You Apply insight.
Most importantly, and before you start an application, you need to ensure your business is eligible for the funding. Organisations that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined below will not be considered.
It is highly recommended you register for the Information Session run by Sustainability Victoria on 25 May, which will help support your application and answer any questions relating to the fund.
Check out How to write a successful grant application to learn more about how to win government grants for your small business. Our in-depth eBook is the single most valuable resource you will find that helps small business owners to truly understand how to win government grants. Follow the link to get your copy of the Guide to Winning Grants.
Is my business eligible for the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Applicants may apply as either as a single organisation or as a collaborative project with multiple organisations.
Lead Applicant
All applications require a single Lead Applicant, who will be the responsible Contracting Party.
The following organisations can apply as a Lead Applicant:
- Commercial / For-profit businesses including:
- Companies
- Trusts
- Co-operatives
- Indigenous corporations
- Joint ventures
- Social Enterprises.
- Industry groups and Associations.
The Lead Applicant must also:
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have been operating for a minimum of 2 years by the application closing date (to be validated by the date that the organisation’s ABN is active from)
- meet or exceed the minimum co-contribution requirements
- lead any Collaborative Partnership according to requirements
- agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
- agree to comply with the funding terms and conditions as per the General grant funding agreement.
Collaborative Partner(s) (optional)
Applicants may establish collaborative relationships with other organisations as required to support project delivery. These other organisations will be considered as Collaborative Partners.The Contracting Party may choose to have one or more Collaborative Partner(s).
The Collaborative Partner can be from any organisation that has:
- a direct, clear role in the project
- a current ABN
- a demonstrated co-contribution to the project.
Collaborative Partnerships must have a formal agreement, such as a memorandum of understanding, in place before the project commences.
The Project Team
The Lead Applicant plus any Collaborative Partners or Delivery Partners are referred to as the ‘Project Team’. The panel will consider the whole Project Team when assessing the merit criteria ‘Who’.
Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are encouraged.
Sustainability Victoria manages several grants and although you can apply for more than one grant for a project, you can only receive one grant per project. If you’ve already applied for a Sustainability Victoria grant and now find this grant is more relevant or suitable for your project you can withdraw your application by email.
The following organisations cannot apply for funding as Lead Applicant:
- Charities
- Other not-for-profit organisations
- Federal, state or local government, including water corporations
- Research institutions including schools, universities and TAFEs
- Sole traders
- Any organisation operating with an ABN less than 2 years at the fund closing date
- Any organisation does not meet all requirements as set out above.
Lead Applicants and/or Collaborative Partners (including other Collaborative Partners) cannot apply for funding if they:
- are insolvent
- have an owner or director who is an undischarged bankrupt
- do not have a current ABN.
What projects are eligible for Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Stream 1 funding is available to support projects that develop circular economy business models or practices with the potential to directly avoid at least 500 tonnes of waste in Victoria.
Projects that avoid more waste than the 500 tonnes waste avoidance target will score higher under the merit-criteria ‘What’.
Stream 2 funding is available to support projects that implement circular economy business models or practices that will directly avoid at least 500 tonnes of waste in Victoria.
Projects that avoid at least 500 tonnes of waste per annum can apply for a grant of up to $500,000. Projects that avoid at least 7,500 tonnes of waste per annum can apply for a grant of up to $1m.
Projects that avoid more waste will score higher under the merit-criteria ‘What’. For example, in Round 1 of Stream 2, projects were funded targeting a minimum of 750 tonnes and up to 28,000 tonnes of waste reduced per annum.
Projects eligible for funding include those that:
- avoid waste of products and materials
- extend the useful life of products
- increase shared use, access or ownership of products
- replace products with services
- produce products and services using less materials
- upcycle pre-consumer food or textile waste.
All projects must also:
- not have started before the funding agreement is signed
- start within 3 months after the project has been awarded funding
- meet all regulatory or planning requirements by 28 February 2023 (Stream 1) or by March 31, 2023 (Stream 2)
- focus on developing projects to be implemented in Victoria
- be completed by November 2023 (Stream 1) or by March 2024 (Stream 2).
Note: Round 1 of Stream 2 of the Fund was oversubscribed. It is anticipated Round 2 may also receive more applications than funding available. If you have an implementation-ready project or are near completion of your Round 1 feasibility project, you are strongly encouraged to apply for funding in this current round.
These projects will not be funded:
- Projects that have received funding or support for the same activities from other sources
- Requests for retrospective funding, where the project activities are completed or have commenced prior to signing a funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria
- Projects that are being undertaken to comply with regulation or a regulatory notice or order
- Projects that do not meet regulatory or planning requirements.
What additional requirements ensure my eligibility for Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Eligible projects
A risk-based approach will be used for each stream to assess the Lead Applicant’s social, economic and environmental risks in relation to the project. This assessment will include the Applicant’s Related Entities and may include Project Partners (see Section 9: Program definitions in the guidelines).
Lead Applicants (and their Related Entities and, if applicable, their Collaborative Partners) must:
- have had no Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breaches in the last five years or, if there was a breach, Sustainability Victoria may assess that the Applicant’s breach poses a satisfactory level of risk
- have not been the subject of an enforceable undertaking or successful litigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009 or a fair work instrument within the last five years
- demonstrate financial capability to undertake the project
- have adequate insurance as outlined in the General Grant funding agreement such as:
- Public liability $10M minimum
- Professional indemnity $5M minimum
- Workcover
- have not failed to satisfactorily progress or complete previous projects funded by Sustainability Victoria within funding program timelines and without sufficient reason; and
- manage any conflicts of interest adequately.
What activities are eligible for Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Eligible activities may include but is not limited to:
Stream 1
- feasibility studies
- product and service design
- business model design
- financial and non-financial assessments
- circularity assessments (e.g., materials flow analysis, hotspots analysis, lifecycle analysis)
- Materials Efficiency assessments
- pilots, trials, and demonstrations
- business advisory services and support
- market development, research and analysis
- delivering a Startup Accelerator
- project evaluation and approval
- business plan or business case development
- developing and launching a major project output (e.g., an industry action plan)
- product stewardship services to extend product life during the Use phase only.
Stream 2
- purchasing, installing and commissioning infrastructure, plant and equipment or other assets
- undertaking staff training for new processes and systems
- designing and delivering promotional content for new products and services
- expanding smaller-scale pilots and demonstration projects
- developing and launching a website, application or digital platform
- events, including launch events (e.g., launching a new business model, product or service)
- site fit outs.
Funding will not be provided for projects and activities focused on:
- recycling collection, sorting, transport and infrastructure
- recycling processing (including composting, mulching, fertilisers and biochar)
- replacing virgin materials with recycled materials in products or services
- increasing the content of recycled materials in products
- Waste to energy, bioenergy and bioenergy fuels (including anaerobic digestion)
- litter, microplastics and illegal dumping
- bioplastics, biodegradable plastics or compostable plastics
- developing or improving facilities operated by government, charities or communities
- aggregates and soils
- energy, emissions or water (although these may be co-benefits of projects)
- product stewardship focused on recycling.
What expenditure is eligible for support from the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Project costs must be directly related to the project and can include:
- new staff costs (such as salaries)
- existing staff costs (such as salaries)
- consultants
- contractor services
- marketing, advertising and promotion
- market research and surveys
- venue and equipment hire
- legal costs (such as costs to obtain IP)
- printing
- design and copywriting
- installation and commissioning
- freight
- project management costs
- capital purchases and assets (infrastructure, plant and equipment)
- other project execution costs (you must specify any other costs)
Additionally, Stream 1 can include leasing assets (excluding vehicles).
The following expenditure is ineligible for funding:
- lease or purchase of land
- permit, licensing and approval costs
- routine or cyclical maintenance works
- repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where damage should be covered by insurance
- operating or business-as-usual costs (such as electricity, water and other utilities)
- existing staff costs (such as salaries) that are not demonstrated to be directly related to the project
- purchase of vehicles (such as front-end loaders or forklifts)
- pre-construction (site preparation) such as site clearing, earthworks or accessibility works
- travel and attendance at conferences
- catering
- contingency costs.
How do you apply for the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
All applications are via the online grant application system SmartyGrants. Applications for the Fund open on Wednesday 25 May 2022 and close on Thursday 7 July 2022.
What information do I need to prepare for registration to the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
For full details of requirements see the Stream 1 Assessment process and the Stream 2 Assessment process.
Stream 1
- Identification of problem and solution
- Evidence supporting solution and target waste avoidance
- Identification of products, materials or waste
- Identification of business model or practice
- Estimate of direct jobs creation
- Project Team details, including:
- capabilities and capacity
- co-contributions
- letters of support
- Proposed milestones, including tasks, deliverables, start/end dates, cost
- Budget
- Communication plan for sharing outputs.
The following additional information is highly recommended:
- Project Plan or Gantt Chart
- Quotes for any costs over $50,000
- Additional supporting information (e.g., a report, a pre-feasibility study etc.)
Stream 2
- Identification of problem and solution
- Evidence supporting solution and target waste avoidance
- Identification of products, materials or waste
- Identification of business model or practice, evidenced by one of the following documents:
- Lean Canvas
- Business Model Canvas
- Business case
- Full Business Plan
- Estimate of direct jobs creation
- Project Team details, including:
- capabilities and capacity
- co-contributions
- letters of support
- Proposed milestones, including tasks, deliverables, start/end dates, cost
- Budget
- Evidence of financing
- Risk management plan
- Project site details.
The following additional information is highly recommended:
- Project Plan or Gantt Chart
- Quotes for any costs over $50,000
- Additional supporting information (e.g., a cash flow document, a feasibility study etc.)
What is the assessment criteria and process of the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
| Ref | Criteria | Weighting Stream 1 | Weighting Stream 2 |
| 1 | What Problem, solution, material, business model, outcomes | 50% | 40% |
| 2 | Who Project Team capability and capacity | 20% | 20% |
| 3 | How Project milestones – tasks, deliverables, dates, costs | 30% | 40% |
Sustainability Victoria may overlay rankings to achieve an overall mix of projects that represent:
- a geographical spread across Victorian regions
- spread across industries and types of applicants
- a mix of project types (e.g. projects targeting different material types and industry applications – manufacturing, civil construction, infrastructure, etc.).
Do you need assistance applying for the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2?
Is your business eligible for the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2 opportunity?
Or maybe you aren’t sure and want to know more?
There’s a lot to keep in mind whenever you apply for a grant, and ultimately, whatever approach you take, the process is going to be time consuming. These tips are based on some of the methods we use at GrantHelper, and they will help you create a stronger application, but there’s no getting away from the workload, whether you do it yourself, or choose to use a grant writing service.
Click the ‘Book a Discovery Call’ button now to schedule a no-obligation virtual meeting with an experienced government grants consultant. Or make an enquiry by filling in the form below. You can also call 0409 478 850 for a no obligation discussion. We’re here to help your business better understand grants, submit your best possible application, and get you in the winners’ circle.
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I want to learn more about the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund – Round 2
- Stream 1 Source – Develop a circular economy business case
- Stream 2 Source – Implement a circular economy business case
- Previous recipients
- Information Bulletin
- Information session
