Up to $6.6M is available from Recycling Rebate for Councils to support the 33 local governments affected by the current closure of SKM.
Recycling Rebate for Councils (RRC)
The Recycling Rebate for Councils will provide one-off grants to the 33 local governments affected by the current closure of SKM. The grants are designed to help councils cover a portion of their net additional costs associated with the management of kerbside recyclables. The grant funding will:
- alleviate some of the additional net costs to councils resulting from the closure of SKM; and
- minimise the amount of recyclable waste going to landfill as a result of the closure of SKM.
Funding
Funding will be used to reimburse councils for a portion of the net additional costs incurred in managing kerbside recyclable materials as a result of the closure of SKM on 26 July 2019. The total amount available for allocation to councils is $6.6m.
Other additional costs incurred by councils as a result of the closure of SKM on 26 July 2019. This may include preparation of communications material, purchase and roll out of additional bins, hire or purchase of additional vehicles, other costs associated with pilots, trials or separation of material at source.
The general terms for the funding are:
- Payments will offset Materials Recycling Facility costs and landfill gate fees incurred in landfilling recyclable materials for the period 26 July 2019 to 14 November 2019 (inclusive) (“the Funded Period”).
- The actual allocation per council will be determined by DELWP based on the total number of eligible councils who apply and forecast costs for the Funded Period.
- Forecasts must be based on the diversion arrangements in place as at 13 August 2019, unless otherwise agreed with DELWP in writing.
- Councils must demonstrate their forecast total costs relating to the collection, handling, transport and disposal/processing of kerbside recyclables for the funded period.
- Note that collection, handling and transport costs will not be covered by the rebate. However, these costs must be identified and can be used to
demonstrate that council will incur net additional costs for the Funded Period. DELWP will recognise these additional costs when
apportioning the rebate across eligible councils. - Councils will only be eligible for the funding if their total forecast costs for the funded period are greater than the total Business as Usual (BAU) Comparator for the same period.
- BAU calculations must be based on the arrangements that were in place with SKM as at 26 July 2019 and on the average tonnes per annum as determined by council and validated by DELWP.
- Funding will be allocated according to the following formula to cover a portion of the net additional costs for landfill and/or alternative Material Recovery Facility costs that councils will incur over the Funded Period. All costs are to be calculated by councils using the EOI Costing Worksheet provided with the EOI form.
Eligibility
Funding is available to the 33 Victorian councils directly affected by the closure of SKM. Eligible councils are:
- Ballarat
- Booroondara
- Brimbank
- Buloke
- Cardinia
- Casey
- Colac Otway
- Darebin
- Glenelg
- Golden Plains
- Greater Geelong
- Hepburn Shire
- Hindmarsh
- Hobsons Bay
- Hume
- Kingston
- Knox
- Macedon Ranges
- Melbourne
- Mildura
- Moonee Valley
- Moorabool Shire
- Mornington Peninsula
- Moyne
- Nillumbik
- Port Phillip
- Pyrenees
- Queenscliffe
- Stonnington
- Surf Coast
- West Wimmera
- Whittlesea
- Yarriambiack
Funding is offered on a non-competitive, conditional basis.
Timing
Applications close 13 September 2019.
