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Grants and funding

The Metropolitan Local Government Waste and Resource Recovery Fund is a $5.5 million Victorian Government initiative aimed at assisting councils in metropolitan Melbourne deliver best practice waste collection and management systems in line with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Strategic Plan. It will work in coordination with other Victorian Government programs to achieve this.

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What is the Metropolitan Local Government Waste and Resource Recovery Fund?

The Metropolitan Local Waste and Resource Recovery Fund (the Fund) is designed to support local government in metropolitan Melbourne implement best practice waste collection and management systems in line with the Metropolitan Waste Plan and Resource Recovery Strategy. 

What are the objectives of the Fund?

The objectives of the Fund are to:

  • support best practice waste management solutions to avoid, reduce and reuse material waste being generated through the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream
  • maximise economic value and environmental outcomes for local government and the community
  • deliver key areas articulated in the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Strategic Plan and contribute to MSW targets set by Towards Zero Waste
  • deliver coordinated metro wide approaches in waste management, waste reduction and resource recovery
  • improve collection arrangements, material sorting and source separation systems
  • pilot new approaches that have potential broader application or provide models for other councils to use.

What are the priority areas for funding?

Projects that will be funded under the $5.5 million investment for supporting the delivery of the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Strategic Plan include:

Infrastructure related projects

  • improved kerbside collection systems (e.g. bin standards)
  • improvements to existing resource recovery (e.g. hard waste and beyond kerbside)
  • projects that build on existing markets for recycled products (e.g. mattresses).

Behaviour change and capacity building related projects

  • facilitated community education to reduce contamination (e.g. organics waste stream)
  • demonstrated projects that focus on waste reduction in the home relating to purchasing and consumption behaviour (e.g. minimising waste through better use of food in the home that reduces food spoilage).

Innovative projects

  • projects that lead to development and demonstration of technological tools that will aid resource recovery, waste reduction (e.g. mobile phone applications and information technology tools).

Research and Development

  • research projects that lead to increased knowledge and understanding of the systems and drivers relating to the management and reduction of MSW.

Projects that will NOT be funded include those that are:

  • funded by other grant programs
  • pre-commercial or carrying risk
  • retrospective projects
  • for litter management and prevention (including PPR)
  • for C&I and C&D waste initiatives
  • for major infrastructure projects (new and upgrades)

Round One and Round Two Fund recipients

Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith, has announced the successful first and second round applications to the Fund. Click here to view the full list of recipients.

How do I apply to the Fund?

Applications for Round 2 closed on Monday 12 December 2011.

Any future funding rounds will be advised on the MWMG website and via our e-news updates.

The Fund involves a two-part application process.

Stage 1 of the application process involves completing a brief application form outlining the key details of the project.

Following receipt of your Stage 1 application, you will be notified whether your organisation's application has been recommended for progression to the next stage (Stage 2 application). Successful applications will receive written notification of the next steps and will be requested to complete and submit a detailed project plan within six (6) weeks from the date of the letter.

Details of the Stage 2 requirements will be provided to successful Stage 1 applicants.

Stage 2 of the application process involves preparing a project plan for submission to the Fund that addresses the following questions:

  • What is the need for the project?
  • What actions are proposed?
  • How will the project achieve the proposed outcomes?
  • Has something similar been done in the past, and how will the proposal make use of information from this incorporating the outcomes to improve this project?
  • How can outcomes from the project be used by MWMG and other councils and organisations to result in wider waste minimisation?
  • What are the timelines and budget for the project?

For Stage 2 applications please refer to the Fund Guidelines for further details.

Applicants may be asked to attend an interview to provide clarification or further details on the proposed project. All applications are treated as confidential.

Application process and timing

Similar to Round 1 of the Fund, MWMG will be running a two-stage application process to allow applicants to put forward a project idea for initial consideration by the Fund's Panel before being invited to develop a full Stage 2 submission.

Stage 2 applications closed on Thursday 16 February 2012 at 4:00pm.  Applicants are encouraged to get in contact with Matthew Nelson to discuss their application status, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   or tel: 8698 9803.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible projects must address the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream only.

The Fund is open to the 30 local governments that are members of the Metropolitan Local Governments' Waste Forum.

Joint local government applications are encouraged and MWMG may suggest collaboration between councils that submit similar applications as part of Stage 1. (In the case of the joint applications one council should be nominated as the 'lead' council for the purposes of the application and associated communications)

Local governments are also encouraged to collaborate with other relevant partners, but must serve as the lead administrator of funding. Other organisations that may be eligible to collaborate with local government for Fund support include:

  • community groups
  • research organisations
  • NGO's (e.g. environmental, social)
  • waste contractors (collection, receival, disposal).

Are contributions required? Is there a cap?

Applications requiring a lesser proportion of the total project costs will be looked upon favourably. The normal expectation is for the applicant to cover 50% of the project costs, including both cash and in-kind contributions. Consideration may be given to lesser contributions where there is strong justification and sound outcomes.

There is no predetermined limit to the amount of financial support available from the Fund for individual projects, however applicants seeking more than $300,000 in funding are advised to discuss their proposed project with MWMG before submitting a Stage 1 application.

Funding assessments are based on the financial ends of the project in light of the environmental and economic benefits that will be achieved, and the level of support available from other funding sources.

Who do funding recipients sign a contract with?

If your project application is successful, a Funding Agreement will be prepared between the applicant and MWMG. The Funding Agreement will cover details such as project deliverables, milestones and payment and reporting requirements.

How can I keep updated about the Fund?

MWMG will provide regular updates regarding the fund via our website and MetroWaste Update. This will include information about timelines for future funding rounds, announcements regarding the awarding of new funding and projects supported by the Fund.

How can I find more information about the Fund?

For further detail see the Fund Guidelines or contact MWMG to discuss your project idea by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling the Strategic Resource Recovery Team on 8698-9800.

Download the Funding Guidelines (426 KB)

Download the Application Form (149KB)

Download the presentation from 11 November 2011 Fund Information Session.

Last Updated: Tuesday, 10 July 2012