Victorian community groups have been given a boost to creatively tackle waste and create new jobs.
Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for the Environment and Climate Action, has announced funding of more than $3 million to be shared by 39 organisations through the Circular Economy Communities Fund.
The Circular Economy Communities Fund will keep about 3000 tonnes of waste out of landfill, with 60,000 volunteers taking part and creating 100 paid jobs.
Funded projects include bicycle recycling, repair and reuse, a soap re-purposing project, recycling and re-purposing of recreational fishing gear, several innovative food rescue and community garden programs.
Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre will create a local micro-industry for the many water sports and camping enthusiasts who live on and regularly visit the Island, creating a repair facility for items such as tents, caravan annexes, yacht sails and surfboard covers to encourage people to repair rather than replace them.
Enable Social Enterprises will expand its e-repair service that helps people from disadvantaged backgrounds access affordable servicing for computers, mobile phones and other technology, while giving young people employment pathways into IT and technology jobs.
Reground will expand its coffee collection service to businesses producing coffee waste across Victoria, engaging 130 businesses, recovering 270 tonnes of coffee waste to 260 end users, providing more than 200,000 people with a sustainable choice when it comes to coffee.
Soap Aid Ltd will re-establish a soap repurposing centre in Melbourne to divert about 30 tonnes of soap and repurpose into soap bars that will be distributed via community organisations out to about 20,000 vulnerable Victorians across the state.
“We’re funding creative, local solutions to keep waste from landfill – building community and protecting the planet,” D’Ambrosio said.
“Our record investment into Victoria’s waste and recycling systems is creating new industries and jobs while we give a new life to unwanted items.”
The Circular Economy Communities Fund is delivered through the State Government’s circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy and will contribute to transitioning Victoria to a circular climate resilient economy. Overall, more than $5.4 million has been awarded to 62 organisations over two years.
The Labor Government has invested more than $515 million to deliver the biggest ever transformation and reform of Victoria’s waste and recycling industry.
For more information visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/circular-economy-communities-fund-funded-projects.
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