What is the Recycling Victoria Communities Fund?
The Recycling Victoria Communities Fund is a program that supports community-based projects that empower the community to reduce waste.
Objectives
The Recycling Victoria Communities Fund will support local community initiatives that engage the community in local solutions for low- waste living. The initiatives need to deliver one or more of the following objectives:
- reduce waste generation
- reduce non-organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce the sources of plastic pollution, litter and illegal dumping
- boost Victoria’s economy through local circular economy initiatives, helping businesses to grow in new ways, and creating up new jobs.
Funding
Two types of grants are available:
- Stream 1 grants will support the creation of one or more circular economy projects within a municipality. Stream 1 will provide grants between $25,000 and $59,000.
- Stream 2 grants will support circular economy projects that are delivered to communities over a wide geographic area (such as multiple local government areas, regions or across Victoria). Stream 2 will provide grants between $60,000 and $250,000.
Eligible Projects
Projects must meet the following requirements:
- Projects must take place in and service Victoria.
- Stream 1: must be completed by 12 months of signing the funding agreement.
- Stream 2: must be completed by 18 months of signing the funding agreement.
You are encouraged to form collaborative relationships with other organisations to support the delivery of your project and maximise its impact in the community.
Aboriginal people and Torres Straight Islanders are encouraged to apply. The fund also encourage applications from Aboriginal owned businesses and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
The Fund will support community-based projects that deliver at least one of the following objectives:
- reduce waste generation
- reduce non-organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce the sources of plastic pollution, litter and illegal dumping
- boost Victoria’s economy through local circular economy initiatives, helping businesses to grow in new ways, and creating up new jobs.
The following project expenses are eligible for funding:
- dedicated project management costs
- marketing, advertising, promotional costs
- consultancy or contract work required for the project
- demonstration projects (demonstration sites, or educational expenses)
- leasing of equipment
- community education activities
- project-related travel expenses
- capital purchases (e.g. infrastructure or equipment)
- Insurance costs related to the project
- project site leasing costs
- permit, licensing, approval costs associated with the project.
Eligible Applicants
To apply, you must:
- be a community group, not-for-profit organisation, charity or social enterprise
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have been operating for a minimum of 2 years (if funding is more than $59,000)
- agree to comply with the Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions and Terms of Participation in Grant Programs.
To be eligible for funding, Lead Applicants must:
- agree to comply with SV’s Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions
- agree to comply with SV’s Terms of Participation in a Grant Program
- have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and appropriate business structure (such as company, incorporated association or registered cooperative)
- be one of the following organisation types:
- community group
- social enterprise
- charity registered on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
- charity register
- other not-for-profit organisation, ideally registered on the ACNC charity register
- provide evidence to demonstrate that the Lead Applicant is either a social enterprise, a not-for- profit organisation or a community group
- implement and service the project in Victoria
- meet the minimum co-contribution requirement for funding ($5:$1)
- have been operating for a minimum of two years if the funding requested is greater than $59,000
- complete the project within this required timeframe:
- Stream 1 projects will need to be completed within 12 months of signing the SV funding agreement
- Stream 2 projects will need to be completed within 18 months of signing the SV funding agreement
- not commence the project before signing the funding agreement with SV
- ensure that the project delivers at least one of the following outcomes in the community:
- reduce waste generation
- reduce non-organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce organic material going to landfill, by re-purposing through local community initiatives
- reduce the sources of plastic pollution, litter and illegal dumping
- boost Victoria’s economy through local circular economy initiatives, helping businesses to grow in new ways, and creating up new jobs.
Timing
Applications close 19 March 2021.
