Over the past decade, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has awarded more than half a billion dollars in grants helping industry, councils, businesses, universities and community groups deliver more than 3000 projects.
The funding has been invested in a range of projects to restore, protect and enhance the New South Wales’ environment.
Investments have included $43 million for industry and councils in the past two years through the Remanufacture New South Wales and Organics Infrastructure programs, with more than $110 million in co-investments to support new infrastructure.
Close to $6 million has been awarded to 64 Aboriginal Land Councils and groups to help reduce the impacts of illegal dumping, litter and waste on Aboriginal land. As well as investments in waste management projects, employment and education in Aboriginal communities across the state.
This funding has helped to remove more than 1931 tonnes of material from Aboriginal lands since 2015.
The EPA has also donated $69 million to roll out Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collections across New South Wales households and businesses by 2030.
Supporting new collection services, increased food rescue and expanded facilities to divert more than a million tonnes of food and garden waste each year from landfill.
Stephen Beaman, New South Wales EPA Acting Chief Executive Officer, said more than 960 organisations have been supported over the past decade.
“The investments we’ve made over the past decade have been critical to driving New South Wales towards a circular economy and diverting four million tonnes of waste from landfill,” he said.
“We’re proud to support a range of innovative projects, from research helping to reduce problems in the plastic industry, to grassroots community projects that are making a real difference on the ground and driving down activities like illegal dumping and littering.”
Beaman said the EPA will soon be offering new funding for the Circular Plastics Program.
“In order to help companies reduce the use of hard-to-recycle plastics, like soft plastics, and increasingly choose to use recycled plastic in new products,” he said.
“We’re investing in our future, and together we can tackle the big issues from climate change to ensure we have the right infrastructure in New South Wales.”
For more information, visit: www.epa.nsw.gov.au
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