Sustainability Victoria

VIC seeks consultation on new Waste Authority and recycling Act

Victoria’s proposed Waste Authority will provide guidance and strategic leadership on overall state-wide direction, including through infrastructure and contingency planning, according to the state government’s recently released options paper.

Read moreVIC seeks consultation on new Waste Authority and recycling Act

There’s still time to enter the 2020 Premier’s Sustainability Awards

Entries are closing soon for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2020 – a program of 11 categories that rewards outstanding achievements by Victorians leading the way in sustainable innovation and practices across all sectors within the state.

Read moreThere’s still time to enter the 2020 Premier’s Sustainability Awards

Entries open for Premier’s Sustainability Awards

Entries are now open for the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2020 – a program of 11 categories that rewards outstanding achievements by Victorians leading the way in sustainable innovation and practices across all sectors within the state.

Entering their 18th year, the 2020 awards will be judged by a panel of climate change, science and research experts who assess applicants’ answers to five key questions.

Sustainability Victoria CEO Claire Ferres Miles said the awards play a critical role in recognising cutting-edge research, industry innovation, community connections and partnerships.

“The Premier’s Sustainability Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding Victorian businesses and individuals who have taken action to transition Victoria to a circular and climate resilient economy,” Ms Ferres Miles said.

“I encourage organisations and individuals in metropolitan and regional Victoria to consider submitting entries for the awards. This year, the application process has been streamlined to be quick and simple to complete.”

Last year’s awards program saw a record number of submissions. Winning entries included an e-waste recycling social enterprise, quality asphalt built from recycled materials and a hospital food waste initiative that collects surplus patient meals for processing and redistribution.

“Finalists take great pride to be recognised for their strategic foresight and hard work by sustainability leaders, sector peers, local communities and customers,” Ms Ferres Miles added.

“Winners tell us they benefit greatly from the increased exposure of their economic, social and environmental efforts in their business operations. The awards are a win-win for the state of Victoria.”

Entries for the 2020 awards close on Monday 20 July at 5pm.

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Recycling Victoria: a new economy? Part two

The Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria strategy is the largest package of recycling reforms in the state’s history. Waste Management Review explores the policy.

Read moreRecycling Victoria: a new economy? Part two

SV extends Recycling Victoria Infrastructure Fund EOI

Sustainability Victoria has extended its Recycling Victoria Infrastructure Fund expressions of interest period to support projects aimed at improving recycling and local reprocessing of paper and cardboard, plastics and glass.

According to a Sustainability Victoria statement, local government authorities are now eligible for the grant, with expressions of interest extended to 8 May.

“By extending the closing date of the expressions of interest we are optimistic this will be beneficial to all stakeholders and the funding program,” the statement reads.

Funding is available for infrastructure projects (new infrastructure or upgrades) that increase the capacity and capability of Victoria’s resource recovery sector and/or improve the quality of available materials for reprocessing and remanufacturing.

Eligible projects include infrastructure and equipment for new facilities, upgrades or expansions to support greater sorting and decontamination of recovered priority materials.

Additional eligible projects include infrastructure and equipment for new facilities, upgrades and expansion to enable reprocessing of materials to a higher quality suitable for manufacturers and end-markets, and infrastructure and equipment for the remanufacturing of recovered priority materials into new products.

Applicants may submit more than one application, however, each application must meet the eligibility criteria and demonstrate how its project addresses the merit criteria and objectives of the program.

“All streams of funding require a co-contribution from the applicant. Your organisation must make a minimum co-contribution of $1: $3 ratio (Government: Applicant) towards the total project cost,” the statement reads.

“Your project can receive funding from other government sources (including federal, state or local). However, this funding cannot be included in your co-contribution.”

Applicants will receive an outcome notification by June 2020, with successful applicants invited to submit a stage two business case by July. Grant recipients will be announced in December.

Funding limits: 

Paper and cardboard: up to 25 per cent of total project capital cost, capped at $8 million per project

Plastics and glass: up to 25 per cent of total project capital cost, capped at $3 million per project.

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