NSW EPA delivers $3 million to help councils and groups combat the landfill crisis

Almost $3 million has been allocated to 13 councils and regional waste groups to deliver local waste and recycling solutions and combat the growing landfill crisis in New South Wales.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) delivered the funding through the third round of grants under the Local Government Waste Solutions (LGWS) Fund.

The 13 projects span 32 local government areas, from Tweed Heads to Sydney, and will help deliver circular waste solutions such as eliminating waste in construction and council operations, trialling services to divert waste from landfill and researching new technology to help recover or reuse materials.

Alexandra Geddes, Executive Director of Programs and Innovation, NSW EPA, said it’s critical that the authority continues to invest in local waste solutions to help tackle the state’s landfill crisis.

“Councils are at the forefront of managing waste for their communities and they are pivotal to our state’s transition to a circular economy,” said Geddes.

“Without action, Sydney is set to run out of landfill space by 2030.We need to shift our current thinking and approach to waste and explore new ways to reuse and recycle products to keep them out of landfill.

“Projects like ‘Wood Cycle Connect’, led by Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, has built a circular ecosystem for waste wood by connecting supply and demand stakeholders via an online tool. This is incredible given 59 per cent of wood waste is sent to landfill annually.”

Round four of the LGWS fund is expected to open in September 2025.

Individual councils, a group of councils, or regional waste groups in the waste levy-paying area are eligible to apply. Individual councils can apply for up to $200,000 in funding, and groups of two or more councils can apply for up to $400,000 in funding.

For more information, visit: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/