CEIF - Hazardous Waste Round 4

Sustainability Victoria (SV) is supporting local councils and registered charities (refer to 2.1 Who can apply) to install new, or upgrade existing, battery drop off points and to promote those locations through Round 4 of the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund (CEIF) – Hazardous Waste.

The types of batteries targeted under this fund are:

• loose batteries <5kg,
• vapes and e-cigarettes,
• embedded batteries including small e-waste <5kg,
• larger batteries (5-60 kg) – e.g. e-bikes and e-scooters disposed of at transfer stations or resource recovery centres.

The fund aims to give Victorians greater access to battery drop off locations. Funded activities focus on infrastructure purchase and installation at convenient locations and advertising costs.

Local councils and registered charities can make two requests for funding:

• infrastructure only, or
• infrastructure and advertising (advertising is up to 10% of the infrastructure funding request)

To support the infrastructure being implemented all successful grantees will have access to a communication pack including materials such as:

• Social media creative with accompanying social copy
• Posters
• Print ads
• DL flyer
• Toolkit document (detailing what the communications materials include, and what they can be a used for etc).

This grant is funded through the government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.

The grants is a negotiated rolling round. Approved projects must be completed by 31 May 2026.

We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be assessed in order of submission for the application assessment dates in which they are submitted.

Late applications will not be accepted except under exceptional circumstances.

The format of the grant application form has been designed to support a quick submission and assessment process.

The following are the guidelines for applying for this fund.

1. Fund overview

1.1 Fund objectives

The Fund aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• provide reasonable access for the Victorian community to access battery (loose and embedded) disposal points
• assist councils to expand their battery drop off points at convenient locations including problem batteries (e.g. e-scooters and vapes)
• assist registered charities to better manage batteries and become a drop off point
• promote the new drop off points, if advertising fund is sought.

1.2 Funding available

• Infrastructure: Up to $20,000 excl. GST to purchase and install infrastructure at convenient locations regularly visited by Victorians such as local government facilities (libraries, swimming pools) and charities (e.g. op-shops).
• Advertising (optional): up to 10% of the infrastructure request to promote the project. The advertising funding request can only be made with an infrastructure funding request.

For example, an applicant wanting to request $18,000 excl. GST for infrastructure fund can request:

• $18,000 for infrastructure only; or
• $18,000 for infrastructure and up to $1,800 for advertising. Total funding request is $ 19,800 excl. GST

1.3 Co-contribution

No co-contribution is required for this fund. All infrastructure expenses above $20,000 excl. GST are at the applicant’s expense. Advertising expenses above 10 % of the infrastructure grant request are also at the applicant’s expense.

2. Eligibility

2.1 Who can apply

Eligible organisations must be one of the following organisation types:

• Victorian local government organisations
• Alpine Resorts Victoria (ARV).
• A registered charity on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) charity register. Eligible registered charities under this fund must be part of the charitable reuse, recycling and retail sector and demonstrate they are currently receiving batteries or intend to become a new battery drop off point.

Note: One grant per Australian Business Number (ABN) will be provided regardless of the number of eligible sites the applicant has. Alpine Resorts under the same ABN are eligible to apply per Alpine Resort.

Note: If the applicant is a Trust, the Funding Agreement must be executed by the Trustee of the Trust for example XYZ Pty Ltd as The Trustee for the XYZ Trust. The Trust as the trading entity must meet all the eligibility requirements of the fund (eg ABN).

Applicants must:

• have a current Australian Business Number (ABN). If the applicant is a Trust, the Trust as the trading entity must meet this requirement.
• have been operating for a minimum of 1 year by the application closing date (to be validated by the date that the organisation’s ABN is active from).
• agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
• agree to comply with the funding terms and conditions for grants $50,000 or less read the Short-form grant funding agreement.

Applicants who do not agree with the Grant Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions will be asked to provide full details of proposed amendments that would render the contractual provision acceptable to the Applicant in the SmartyGrants application form. Applicants should note that significant or substantive variations will not be viewed favourably unless the Applicant is able to demonstrate the necessity for such variations. Should applicants be successful, no further amendments to SV’s standard terms and conditions will be considered beyond the variations included in the application form.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

2.2 Who cannot apply

• For profit and not-for-profit entity that is not a registered charity (refer to 2.1 Who can apply)
• State government entities
• Research institutions
• Universities
• Private schools
• Unincorporated entities
• Community groups
• Individuals

2.3 What will be funded

Funding will support projects that focus on establishing accessible and safe battery drop off points for all Victorians through:

• Upgrading transfer station or resource recovery centre drop off infrastructure for the safe collection of loose batteries and products containing embedded batteries.
• Installing new drop off infrastructure units at convenient locations for loose batteries and small e-waste containing embedded batteries (including vapes) in public buildings, community centres and from registered charities.

Project types:

• Purchase and install new battery (loose and embedded) drop off units such as collection bins, buckets, tubes, collection cabinets and crates
• Upgrade an existing battery drop off point/s at transfer stations or resource recovery centres (local government only) with the purchase and installation of new infrastructure such as collection cabinets or skip bins.
• Advertising to promote the new or upgraded disposal point/s via communication channels.
• This incudes but is not limited to:
  • print
  • radio
  • digital
  • billboards at transport stops and shopping centres
  • direct mail

Advertising channels must be targeted to reach the municipality or customers of charities.

Projects must:

• Target one or more of the following battery types:
  • loose batteries <5kg,
  • vapes and e-cigarettes,
  • embedded batteries including small e-waste <5kg,
  • larger batteries (5-60 kg) – e.g. e-bikes and e-scooters disposed of at transfer stations or resource recovery centres.
• Be located in and service Victoria
• Be located in a convenient publicly accessible location such as public buildings, community centres, council buildings, swimming pools, libraries, charities op-shops or transfer stations or resource recovery centres.
• Commence after the applicant is notified by SV in writing that their grant application is successful.
• Meet regulatory and planning requirements
• Upgrade of infrastructure at transfer stations or resource recovery centres must be in line with AS/NZS 5377 : 2013 and any EPA requirements or guidance
• Be completed by 31 May 2026.

Applicants must:

• Demonstrate how they plan to promote and evaluate the advertisement impact, if requesting funding for advertising.

2.4 What will not be funded

The following projects are ineligible for funding:

• Projects that do not focus on loose batteries and electronic products containing embedded batteries
• Projects that have commenced before the applicant is notified by SV in writing that their grant application is successful. Note: if applicants fail to execute a Funding Agreement, their eligible costs will not be reimbursed.
• Advertisement activities that have been funded by other government funding streams for education and behaviour change activities
• Projects that are being undertaken to comply with regulation or a regulatory notice or order
• Projects that have received funding or support for the same activities from other sources

The following costs are ineligible for funding:

• Battery pick up, transport and processing
• Design work
• Lease or purchase of land
• Permit, licensing, approvals
• Routine or cyclical maintenance works
• Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where damage should be covered by insurance
• Ongoing operating costs such as, but not limited to, salaries, electricity, water and other utilities
• Security such as fencing, cameras and alarm systems
• Consultancy/project management
• Purchase of vehicles (e.g. front-end loaders, forklifts)
• Business case development, feasibility studies, consultancy or contract work
• Pre-construction (site preparation) such as site clearing, earthworks or site accessibility works
• Research, development and demonstration
• Leasing of equipment
• Travel, conferences and other educational activities
• Contingency
• Fuel

2.5 Resources

To assist you planning your project see the B-cycle information sheet, for more information on:

• Specifics of a battery container
• Finding a collector, sorter and recycler
• How to become a B-cycle battery drop off point

3. Assessment process

3.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment panel will assess the application against the following criteria:

What

Pass or Fail

Demonstrate:

• The project will:
  • Collect loose batteries, embedded batteries or vapes as defined in What will be funded 2.3
  • Install collection units or upgrade battery disposable drop off point/s at transfer stations or resource recovery centres
  • Be located in convenient locations and accessible to the public
  • Meet AS 5377 standard (if transfer station or resource recovery centre)

• The project cost are reasonable for the size and specification of the infrastructure (quote/s provided).

How

Pass or Fail

Demonstrate how the proposed upgrade or installation will improve your current practices.

If advertising funding, demonstrate:

• how the project will be promoted
• the communication channels have been identified
• the target audience
• how the reach and engagement activities will be measured

3.2 Due diligence checks

A risk-based approach will be used to assess the Applicant’s social, economic, safety and environmental risks in relation to the project. This assessment will include the Applicant’s Related Entities and may include Project Partners and/or Project Participants (see Section 9: Definitions).

Applicants (and their Related Entities and, if applicable, their Project Partners and/or Project Participants) must:

• have had no Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breaches in the last five years or, if there was a breach, Sustainability Victoria may assess that the Applicant’s breach poses a satisfactory level of risk;
• have not been the subject of an enforceable undertaking or successful litigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009 or a fair work instrument within the last five years;
• have adequate insurance as outlined in the funding agreement such as:
  • Public liability $10M minimum
  • Professional indemnity $5M minimum (if required)
  • WorkCover
• have not failed to satisfactorily progress or complete previous projects funded by Sustainability Victoria within funding program timelines and without sufficient reason; and
• manage any conflicts of interest adequately.

Assessment of satisfactory level of risk will include but not be limited to Sustainability Victoria’s consideration of:

• the seriousness of any finding/s;
• whether the finding/s has been resolved to the satisfaction of the relevant enforcement agency, or the Applicant can demonstrate it is working effectively to resolve the finding;
• the efforts made by the Applicant including implementation of management systems, to ensure no further finding/s occur; and
• whether, since the finding, the Applicant has had a satisfactory level of compliance with relevant Environmental and Safety Laws and Workplace Laws.

Sustainability Victoria may conduct due diligence checks on the Project Partners and/or Project Participants involved in the delivery of the project. The Applicant must ensure that any Project Partners and/or Project Participants agree to cooperate with this requirement and will provide information at Sustainability Victoria’s request.

Sustainability Victoria reserves the right not to award funding to Applicants where the due diligence risk (including that of Project Partners and Project Participants) is unsatisfactory or not able to be managed.

4. Funding conditions

Successful applicants approved for funding must do the following.

4.1 Before starting the project

• Participate in an inception meeting to discuss their project and the funding agreement.
• Agree to realistic evidence-based and performance-based milestone payments.
• Provide Sustainability Victoria with insurance certificates of currency.
• Sign Sustainability Victoria’s funding agreement within 30 days of receipt via DocuSign.

4.2 During and after the project

• Deliver the project as outlined in the application and comply with the funding agreement.
• Contribute to regular project progress updates or meetings.
• Notify Sustainability Victoria immediately about any delay or change to the project.
• Provide update reports to Sustainability Victoria at agreed milestones with evidence of expenditure, progress and performance
• Provide adequate monitoring and evaluation of the project according to the funding agreement.
• Collect and release data to Sustainability Victoria for 5 years post completion of the project. Sustainability Victoria may share or report on the data.
• Contribute to the project’s promotional activities (for example, provide Sustainability Victoria with support by reviewing and approving written stories or videos).
• Participate in and contribute to Sustainability Victoria activities to distribute the findings to broader stakeholders (for example, government and industry).
• Acknowledge that Sustainability Victoria has contributed funding in all communications related to the project.

5. Timeline

The grant will operate on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted from Monday 14 July 2025, until all funds are allocated or, at the latest Monday 1 December 2025, or as determined by SV.

The below dates may change.

There is no date for the notification of application outcomes. We will provide applicants with updates as much as possible and when necessary.

Information session: coming soon.

6. How to apply

Before applying, we recommend you to listen to the recorded information session.

The grant program involves a rolling, negotiated application process. Applications will be assessed in order of submission for the application assessment dates in which they are submitted.

1. Ensure that your organisation can apply
2. Ensure that your project is qualified.
3. Read Sustainability Victoria’s Short-form grant funding agreement (for grants $50,000 or less). You must meet the terms and conditions to ensure funding.
4. Read Sustainability Victoria’s Terms of participation in grant programs.
5. Create an account and start your application on the SmartyGrants website.
6. Submit your application by

• 1 September 2025, 11.59pm
• 29 September 2025, 11.59pm
• 27 October 2025, 11.59pm
• 1 December 2025, 11.59pm

Late applications will not be accepted except under exceptional circumstances.

Your application

• Allow adequate time to plan, research, gather supporting documentation and draft your application.
• We cannot review drafts or provide feedback.
• You must use SmartyGrants, unless you have written permission from Sustainability Victoria.

7. Assistance available

7.1 Information sessions

View the information session for details on the fund, help to get you started, how to complete the application form and guidance on addressing the assessment criteria.

Any question/s specifically related to eligibility for this program please email: grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au

In the subject line, use the grant name, CEIF Hazardous Waste round 4.

The Grants Team cannot review drafts or provide feedback.

Read the information bulletin

Answers to questions we receive at our information sessions and via phone and email are published on our Information bulletin.

We only publish answers to questions that are not already covered in these grant guidelines.

7.2 Contact us

We cannot review drafts or provide feedback.

Email: grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au

In the subject line, use the grant name CEIF Hazardous Waste round 4.

8. Why the Victorian Government is providing this funding

This fund is released as part of the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria policy.

The Industry and Infrastructure Development Package includes the Circular Economy Infrastructure Fund (CEIF) - Hazardous Waste which is designed to increase the capacity and capability of Victoria’s resource recovery sector to improve the management of hazardous waste. End of life batteries pose an environmental and human health and safety risk when disposed of incorrectly. The number of fires in kerbside collection trucks, landfills and material recovery facilities is significantly increasing as a result of incorrect disposal of batteries in kerbside bins, highlighting the need for additional battery drop off infrastructure to increase access for Victorian to correctly dispose of batteries. Batteries also contain valuable materials which when recycled can be used back into the manufacture of other products.

The CEIF Hazardous Waste - Round 4 aims to support local councils and registered charities to install new, or upgrade existing, battery drop off points to give Victorians greater access to battery drop off locations.

9. Definitions

Applicant

The applicant who applies for the funding and is responsible for all details in the submission of an application and the contractual obligations under the funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria if successful for grant funding. Applicants must be legally constituted organisations and with a current ABN that has been active for a minimum of 1 year by the application closing date.

The funding that Sustainability Victoria will grant to successful applicants is public money which SV must ensure is expended prudently, accountably and to achieve maximum impact. By requiring businesses to have been in operation for a minimum of 1 year, governments can reduce the risk of investing in businesses that may not have fully established their business model or market demand.

Business
A commercial enterprise seeking to generate profit through its activities, including Social Enterprises.

Charity
A Charity is an organisation that is not-for-profit and has only charitable purposes that are for the public benefit. A Charity must not be an individual, political party or government entity, and must be registered on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Charity Register.

For the purpose of this fund, charities must be part of the charitable reuse, recycling and retail sector and demonstrate they are currently receiving batteries or intend to become a new battery drop off point.

Co-contribution

The Applicant’s required cash or in-kind contribution to the total project income. Co-contributions must be for eligible activities.

Collaborative Partnership

A relationship established between a Lead Applicant and Project Partner/s for the purposes of meeting common project objectives and outcomes. Collaborative Partnerships need to be demonstrated by a formal agreement between the partners that outlines the governance, financial and intellectual property arrangements and roles and responsibilities of each party. A formal agreement must either be in place or be finalised before commencement of the project.

Community Group

Any organisation engaged in charitable or other community-based activity operating under Australian law and not established for the purpose of making a profit. This definition can include not-for-profit entities pursuing a range of ‘for-profit’ commercial activities. It can also include organisations engaged in advocacy or other activities that may not be primarily charitable in nature. Unincorporated entities are ineligible to apply.

Convenient Location

A convenient location is a location / facility regularly visited by Victorians such as local government facilities (libraries, swimming pools) and charities (e.g. op-shops)

Direct Jobs

Actual new full-time positions created by your business. This can include training or upskilling of employees who would otherwise be made redundant through the implementation of your project.

Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breach

An environmental or safety breach is any past or current prosecution, reportable incident, investigation, notice, penalty, warning, regulatory intervention or enforcement action from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe) or Fair Work or failure to comply with any environmental, safety and workplace laws.

Environmental and Safety Laws

Environmental and safety laws are the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, Environment Protection Act 2017 or any other legislation, regulation, order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the protection and safety of persons or property or which regulate the environment including laws relating to land use planning, pollution of air or water, soil or groundwater contamination, chemicals, waste, the use, handling, storage or transport of dangerous goods or substances, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon trading, or any other aspect of protection of the environment.

Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTE)

The hours worked by one employee on a full-time basis.

Calculating FTE

The calculation is used to convert the hours worked by several part-time employees into the hours worked by full-time employees. For example, you have three employees working the following - 40, 40 and 20 hours per week, giving you 100 hours per week in total.

Assuming full-time hours are 40 hours per week, your full-time equivalent calculation is 100 hours divided by 40 hours which equals 2.5 FTE.

In-kind Contribution

An in-kind contribution is a contribution of a good or a service other than cash.

In-kind contributions should include the cost for activities that are directly related to delivering your project. Examples include:

• staff time to manage project implementation (project management and installation costs that utilise existing internal resources);
• time spent on project activities by volunteers; and
• donated goods or services related to the project.

The following activities cannot be considered as in-kind contributions:

• operating expenses that are not directly associated with delivering the project; and
• opportunity costs such as staff ‘downtime’ during the installation of equipment or implementation of activities.

Applicants must fairly justify how they determined the dollar value for in-kind contributions.

Lead Applicant

The listed applicant for the purposes of a Collaborative Partnership. The Lead Applicant will be responsible for all details in the submission of an application and the contractual obligations under the funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria if successful for grant funding. The Lead Applicant is also responsible for managing the project outcomes and deliverables of the Collaborative Partnership.

Not-for-profit

A not-for-profit (NFP) organisation is an entity that does not operate for the profit or gain (either direct or indirect) of particular people. Unincorporated entities are ineligible to apply.

Project Participant/s

An organisation engaged by the Applicant to assist in the delivery of the Applicant’s project, including but not limited to major subcontractors, contractors, product suppliers and consultants.

Project Partner/s

An organisation/s in a Collaborative Partnership with a Lead Applicant that have a critical role in the project and a formal commitment to delivering the support required to ensure the project’s success.

Related Entities

Entities which are related to the Applicant, including:

• Holding companies of the Applicant
• Subsidiaries of the Applicant
• Subsidiaries of holding companies of the Applicant
• Companies with common directors or shareholders as the Applicant
• Companies that are a beneficiary under a trust of which the Applicant is a trustee
• Trustees of a trust under which the Applicant is a beneficiary
• Companies that conduct business at the same address as the Applicant, or the same address as the location of the activity for which the funding is sought

Social Enterprise

A social enterprise is a business that trades to intentionally tackle social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training, or help the environment.

Social enterprises:

• are driven by a public or community cause, be it social, environmental, cultural or economic
• derive most of their income from trade, not donations or grants
• use the majority (at least 50%) of their profits to work towards their social mission.

Related Person/s

Related Person means a director, officer, employee, agent, board member or contractor of the Applicant or a Related Entity.

Workplace Laws

Workplace laws are the Fair Work Act 2009, or any other legislation, regulation order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the provision of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum terms and conditions for all persons and to prevent discrimination against employees.