NSW EPA Organics Infrastructure (Large and Small) Round 6 grants announced
By MRA Consulting Group
The NSW EPA has released the sixth round of the Organics Infrastructure (Large and Small) Program grant under the $337 million Waste Less Recycle More Initiative, 2014-17 (WLRM) extension.
The new grants aim to help local councils, businesses, government institutions, not for profits, and industry organisations, depending on the type of grant project/stream. The program provides an opportunity for eligible entities to access Stream 1 funding of up to $3 million for infrastructure for food and garden organics processing and Stream 3 and 4 up to $500,000 for infrastructure to facilitate food donation or for equipment to improve product quality.
Applications close August 30, 2018.
Further eligibility criteria and other grant funding details are summarised in the table below:
| Funding stream | Eligible applicants | Project requirements | Maximum funding per application | Closing date |
| Stream 1 Food and Garden Organics Processing |
Local councils, groups of councils, government agencies and waste processors | For new and enhanced infrastructure to process source separated food, garden or combined food and garden organics from households and/or businesses. | $3 million | August 30, 2018 |
| Stream 3 Food Donation |
Food charity organisations (not-for-profits only) | Infrastructure to facilitate collection and redistribution of edible food.
Infrastructure such as fridges, freezers, refrigerated vans and storage equipment. |
$500,000 | |
| Stream 4 Product Quality |
Local councils, groups of councils, government agencies and waste processors* | Equipment to improve the quality of recycled organics above regulatory requirements.
Intended to support businesses wanting access to new markets. |
$500,000 |
Stream 1 – Organics processing infrastructure
Items that can be funded:
- New and/or enhanced major organics processing facilities including anaerobic digestion, tunnel composting and windrow composting facilities.
- Upgrades to composting facilities to decrease the environmental risk where the facility is expanding processing capacity to include food waste.
- Sheds to enclose the receipt of material and/or early composting stages.
- Signage and barriers.
- Engineered compost pads.
- Shredders for input of materials to composting operations.
- Preliminary processing equipment e.g. food de-packaging and contamination removal equipment.
- Trommel screens.
- Aeration management equipment.
- Windrow covers.
- Training in the use of the new equipment.
- Detailed design costs.
Stream 4 – Product quality infrastructure
Examples of eligible infrastructure and equipment for Stream 4 Product Quality, include but are not limited to:
- Upgrades to composting facilities to decrease the environmental risk of output material.
- Windrow turners.
- Upgrades to signage and barriers.
- Management systems and infrastructure for receipt areas.
- Bag splitting/de-packaging equipment.
- Front end manual or mechanical sorting equipment.
- Air separation technology.
- Onsite laboratory/testing equipment.
- Training in the use of the new equipment.
- Procurement of expert advice on establishment of quality assurance management and testing systems where the advice is less than 5% of the project budget.
MRA has submitted more than 140 WLRM grant applications to date, winning more than $40m in funding for our clients. MRA can provide a one-stop shop to maximise your chances of success.
We can assist by:
- Preparing grant proposals on your behalf;
- Reviewing grant proposals;
- Source equipment providers;
- Provide costings on infrastructure;
- Prepare the business case; and
- All of the necessary financial feasibility analysis requirements.
If your organisation is interested in any of the above grant programs, please email Virginia Brunton at virginia@mraconsulting.com.au or call 0438 496 834. Alternatively, email info@mraconsulting.com.au or call (02) 8541 6169.
*Note: Previous Stream 1 recipients cannot apply for Stream 4 for the same site.
