Sustainability Victoria is set to deliver $2 million in funding on behalf of the Victorian Government to councils in the state – through the Circular Economy Councils Fund – to divert waste from landfill and improve recycling capacity.
The third round of the program will provide funding for local and regional projects that promote the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of materials.
This round of funding is earmarked for local projects that will increase recycling and the reuse of materials diverting tonnes of waste from landfill.
Sustainability Victoria Interim CEO, Matt Genever, said through providing funding to councils local solutions can be achieved that deliver community benefits and have a positive impact across the state.
“Our vision for Victoria is a circular economy where products are made to last and waste is avoided. A circular economy fosters innovation and invigorates existing businesses and creates new ones, delivering more jobs and growth for local economies,” Mr Genever said.
Projects eligible for funding include initiatives that seek to increase the reuse, repurposing and recycling of materials at local or regional scale, helping to meet the government’s target to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.
Victorian Minister for Environment, Ingrid Stitt, said, “Our ambitious plans and record investment are helping make Victoria cleaner and more sustainable – creating jobs and supporting the economy at the same time.
“We’re supporting councils to develop local projects that help people think of waste differently, developing creative local solutions that reuse precious resources.
“These projects will mean more materials are being reused, repurposed and recycled, which brings us closer to reaching our target of diverting 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030.”
A circular economy keeps materials, products and services in circulation for as long as possible and keeps them out of landfill. So far, more than 50 projects across the state have been supported by $3.8 million in funding.
Previous projects include a mattress recycling program in Swan Hill, a recycling library in Wyndham where residents can borrow re-used gardening, sporting and camping equipment, a composting facility in Bairnsdale and a food organics collection service for multi-storey buildings in Melbourne.
The projects are estimated to have prevented more than 55,000tof waste going to landfill and created 60 jobs.
The Victorian Government has made a record investment of $515 million to deliver a once in a generation transformation of the state’s waste and recycling system.
This includes rolling out a statewide four-stream household waste and recycling system and a Victorian container deposit scheme.
Feature image: Victorian Recycling Initiative. Provided by Sustainability Victoria.
