Organics Collections

This program is now closed.

Purpose

This program was aimed at diverting food and garden waste from landfill and redirecting it to organics processing facilities. It complemented the Organics Infrastructure – Processing grant program, which funded the establishment of processing facilities.

Organics Collections (Household stream) grants provided funding to implement new garden only, food only or combined food and garden organics kerbside collection services. The funding supported audits, community education and the purchase of infrastructure such as bins and kitchen caddies.

The Organics Collections (Household stream) grants program's objectives were to:

increase the diversion of source separated food and garden waste from landfill
support councils to transition from Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) processing to source separated organics services
increase expertise and experience in delivering organics collections in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs).

This program was being delivered by the NSW Environmental Trust in partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority. Additional information can be found on the EPA website.

Before 2017, this program was called the Local Government Organics Collection Systems (LGOCS) grants program.

Funding available

Household stream

Grants of up to $1.3 million per project were available for:

Introduction of a kerbside organics bin collection service for households that did not have a kerbside organics bin.
Introduction of an enhanced kerbside organics service – that is, households which had a kerbside organics bin for garden waste were able to recycle food waste.
Expansion of kerbside organics collection services to include multi-unit dwellings (MUDs).
Minimum 8-month trials of organics collection services in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs).

Applications could include both single-unit dwellings (SUDs) and MUDs, or separate applications submitted for each.

New or enhanced kerbside organics collection services for SUDs must be operational within 2 years of being awarded grant funding. MUD trials must be underway within 6 months.

Who can apply?

The following organisations were eligible to apply:

individual NSW councils (as defined in the Local Government Act 1993)
regional waste groups, regional organisations of councils and joint organisations of councils (these groups can apply for grants themselves or coordinate projects on behalf of one or more of their member councils, noting that each council must nominate a contact person for the project).

When can applications be made?

Online Grants Management System

The Grants Management System (GMS) manages the whole of the grant process online, from application submission through to grant acquittal and project evaluation.

If your funding application is successful, you will use the GMS to lodge documents related to the project, such as work plans, variations, progress reports and final reports.

The GMS will collect some information about your organisation. The Privacy Policy outlines how this information will be managed.

For further guidance, download the Grants Management System Online Portal User Manual.

Guidelines and application forms

This program is now closed. The forms and guidelines below are for information only.

The application form is not available as applications were made via the Trust’s online Grants Management System (GMS). The Grants Management System Online Portal User Manual can be downloaded for additional information and guidance.

Reporting obligations

If you are successful in obtaining funding for your project, you will need to provide regular reports on your progress.

Project measures table

A project measures table will be provided to you with your grant agreement. The project measures table will assist with setting the project baseline, creating targets, recording progress and project achievements.

An updated project measures table will need to be submitted with each progress report.

Progress reports and final report

As you move through your project, you will have to submit milestone (progress) reports. These will outline what you have achieved and what you will do next.

Milestone reports are reviewed by technical experts who ensure you are on the right track and give you feedback or advice. After your report is reviewed and accepted, we will pay your next grant instalment.

When your project finishes, you will have to submit a final report that says what it has achieved.

Please use milestone report form (DOCX 75KB) and final reporting form (DOCX 75KB) for these reports.

Financial reports

You must submit a statement of expenditure with each milestone report. A certified financial report will be required as part of the final report.

Where to send reports

Please email reports and other documents to [email protected] (50MB limit).

Acknowledgement requirement

You are required to acknowledge the funding you have received from the Trust in all publications and materials related to your project. Please use the wording below:

This project is supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW Environment Protection Authority's Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.

You also need to use the NSW Government logo. See Funding acknowledgement and logos for details.

Grants awarded

In 2021 a total of $2,647,644 was awarded to 6 projects under the Household Stream.
In 2020 a total of $2,669,314 was awarded to 8 projects under the Household Stream.
In 2019 a total of $780,043 was awarded to 3 projects under the Business Stream.
In 2019 a total of $1,219,882 was awarded to 2 councils under the Household Stream.
In 2018 a total of $369,420 was awarded to 3 projects under the Business Stream.
In 2018 a total of $4,562,966 was awarded to 7 councils under the Household Stream.
In 2017 a total of $2,011,127 was awarded to 7 councils.
In 2016 a total of $1,656,231 was awarded to 4 councils.
In 2015 a total of $3,514,306 was awarded to 7 councils.
In 2014 a total of $5,805,566 was awarded to 10 councils.
In 2013 a total of $6,519,811 was awarded to 21 councils.

Go to the Project summaries.

More information

Contact us

Environmental Trust

Grant or application enquiries

Phone: 02 8837 6093

Email: [email protected]

Organics Unit

General program or project-related enquiries

Phone: 02 9995 6890