Recycling centres across Northern Victoria can apply for grants of up to $500,000 for infrastructure upgrades as part of round one of the $40.9 million Regional Recycling Fund.
The state government is continuing to drive Victoria’s economic recovery from COVID-19 through investment in regional recycling infrastructure, to create circular economies and local jobs.
Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said grants were available to upgrade regionally significant resource recovery centres that processed recyclable materials including cardboard, plastic, paper, glass and mixed recyclables.
“I encourage councils and recycling centres positioned to be regionally significant waste and recovery hubs to apply for a share of this funding that will benefit households and local business while creating jobs,” Mr Gepp said.
“This is a game-changing investment for Victoria’s recycling infrastructure and important step to the growing the regional recycling industry, reducing landfill.”
A funding pool of $10 million is available for round one of the program, which can also be used to fund infrastructure investment that will help smaller facilities operate at a larger scale to strengthen regional Victoria’s recycling network.
Future funding from the Regional Recycling Fund will focus on upgrading and establishing new regional material recovery facilities and be informed by the development of Regional Circular Economy Plans.
These plans will bring together regional councils and identify local recycling opportunities that optimise Victoria’s resource recovery and transfer station network.
Local councils and private operators across Northern Victoria are invited to apply.
Private operators will be asked to contribute $3 for every $1 received through the grants program.
This fund is part of the government's $515 million investment towards delivering the biggest ever transformation of the state’s waste and recycling industry, including major reforms such as the new four service household recycling system and the container deposit scheme.
Applications for round one of the Regional Recycling Fund are open until March 9.
More information is available at www.vic.gov.au/regional-recycling-fund