Circular Economy Councils Fund – Funded projects
The Circular Economy Councils Fund was a 4-year program that supported local government and alpine resort management boards to reduce waste to landfill and transition towards a circular economy.
Grants focus on local and regional circular economy projects which:
- decrease the volume of waste to landfill
- increase the volume of material reused, repaired, repurposed or recycled
- increase circular economy activity, which also stimulates local employment and economic growth.
These grants were part of the funding from the Victorian Government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy.
Over the 4-year program, aggregating all funded projects, we expected to see:
- 6,000 tonnes waste to landfill reduction (3,000t organic; 3,000t non-organic)
- 20,000 tonnes increase in processing capacity (10,000t organic; 10,000t non-organic)
- up to 40 new jobs (30 temporary; 10 permanent)
- improved markets for recovered materials ($300,000 added value).
Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund.
Outcome reports
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Implementation stream
Announcement date: 6 October 2023.
Project required a minimum $1 co-contribution for every $5 granted.
Alpine Shire Council
Setting up a reuse shop at the Myrtleford Transfer Station to provide opportunities for the reduction of waste to landfill.
Funding: $106,666
Central Goldfields Shire Council
Extending and upgrading the FOGO receiving area at the Carisbrook Compost Facility to increase capacity and the quality of compost output.
Funding: $347,840
City of Monash (collaborative)
Delivering a Circular Economy Leadership Development Program involving 12 Victorian councils. The program aims to empower Council Officers, CEOs, Directors, Leadership teams and Department Professionals to embed circularity into policy and strategies, address barriers to transitioning to a circular economy and build networks of Circular Leaders to achieve change at scale.
Funding: $92,144Frankston City Council
Establishment of a bin trim program for 35-45 businesses in Frankston, Casey and Mornington municipalities to enable participants to reduce waste to landfill, increase recycling and FOGO uptake and optimise circular economy opportunities.
Funding: $120,000
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Developing a resale shop at the Romsey Resource Recovery facility and upgrading the Kyneton resale shop to divert usable goods from landfill and give residents and visitors the opportunity to buy unique and difficult-to-find items.
Funding: $150,066
Melbourne City Council
Introducing a closed-loop system within a hub of cafes where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, waste is minimized, and environmental impact is reduced.
Funding: $287,040
Moira Shire Council
Introducing 2 resale shops at the Cobram and Numurkah Transfer Stations, diverting waste from landfill, creating local employment opportunities, and providing access for the community to preloved goods at affordable rates.
Funding: $178,560
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Supporting the design and construction of a 'Wash Against Waste' trailer and reusable crockery inventory, to be used at Shire events and community gatherings.
Funding: $40,000
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Delivering a new concreted space to replace an existing unsealed dirt floor section of a building at the Castlemaine Transfer Station to allow for the storing, repairing and dismantling of recovered items from the waste stream.
Funding: $48,000
Murrindindi Shire Council
Providing a trailer mounted mulcher that will be used to create garden mulch from brush and wood that would otherwise go to landfill.
Funding: $129,166
Rural City of Wangaratta
Implementing a quality control process to boost the overall efficiency and viability of the Wangaratta Organics Processing Facility and diverting greater quantities of organic material from landfill.
Funding: $82,888
Swan Hill Rural Council
Creating a Circular Agricultural Plastics Economy (CAPE) for Loddon Mallee to help collect 3,200 tonnes of agricultural plastic waste annually from farmers and remanufacture it into fenceposts, irrigation pipes and other farming essentials.
Funding: $330,000
Yarra Ranges Shire Council
Developing 2 trial events within the Yarra Ranges Shire where the community can send textile products not suitable for op shops or repurposing to a recycling facility, where they will be created into products such as pigment and building materials.
Funding: $51,283
Yarriambiack Shire Council
Reducing the waste to landfill for 10 small communities in the Yarriambiack Shire with the Yarriambiack Mobile Recycling Station trailer that will collect a range of items for recycling and aggregate them at the Warracknabeal Transfer Station.
Funding: $190,400
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Round 2 supported councils and Alpine Resort Management Boards (ARMBs) in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill or increasing the volume of materials reused, repaired, repurposed or recycled.
Implementation stream
Announcement date: 25 October 2022
This stream supported implementation of circular economy projects with a proven business case.
Bayside City Council
Establishing pop-up repair events including opportunities for reuse or repurposing.
Funding: $50,000
Central Goldfields Shire Council
Embedding sustainable waste practices in local events by working with Energy Breakthrough, a not-for-profit, STEM-based education program.
Funding: $108,700
City of Melbourne
Implementing a collection service for Food Organics (FO) in buildings higher than 6 storeys.
Funding: $217,000
City of Whittlesea (collaborative)
Implementing waste and recycling models across business precincts in 14 metro and regional councils, achieving circular resource practices for 140 businesses.
Funding: $140,000
Glen Eira City Council (collaborative)
Implementing a best practice reusable nappy program across 13 councils and evaluating the impact.
Funding: $128,000
Northern Grampians Shire Council
Introducing public place recycling to promote circular economy practices whilst increasing resource recovery and separation of waste at the local source.
Funding: $196,482
Strathbogie Shire Council
Implementing a resale shop at Nagambie at the Strathbogie Shire Council's Resource Recovery Centre.
Funding: $71,625
Surf Coast Shire Council
Upgrading the Lorne Transfer Station to incorporate 3 additional bin bays, improve resource recovery options and improve traffic flows for locals and visitors.
Funding: $160,000
Swan Hill Rural City Council
Implementing a large-scale mattress processing and recycling facility.
Funding: $167,500
Wyndham City Council
Providing a facility for residents to borrow high-quality equipment such as tools, gardening, sporting and camping equipment.
Funding: $91,290
Feasibility stream
Announcement date: 6 June 2022
This stream supported exploring circular economy solutions, scope project viability or establish business cases for future circular economy projects.
Alpine Shire Council
Investigating the feasibility of establishing a reuse shop (upcycle or reuse) at any or all of the three existing transfer stations.
Funding: $20,000
Boroondara City Council
Investigating several models of commercial FOGO service delivery by local government.
Funding: $20,000
Boroondara City Council
Trialling the effectiveness of a business engagement and capacity building program aimed at the professional services, hospitality and retail sectors.
Funding: $45,000
Brimbank City Council
Assessing the feasibility of developing a new "full service" resource recovery centre at Sunshine Energy Park through the 'up-cycling' of the precast concrete industrial building.
Funding: $20,000
Casey City Council
Identifying and testing viable local alternatives to EPS waffle pods that are made out of recycled content.
Funding: $20,000
City of Whittlesea
Assessing the most suitable location for a resale shop(s), the operating options, costs and associated risks.
Funding: $20,000
Greater Bendigo City Council
Determining what industrial capacity exists to recirculate pre-existing 'downstream' waste(d) material flows of the Loddon-Mallee and Loddon-Campaspe regions' councils.
Funding: $80,000
Knox City Council
Assessing the effectiveness and impact of past and current models to incentivise the use of reusable sanitary and incontinence aid products.
Funding: $80,000
Mansfield Shire Council
Determining the costs of FOGO processing and the benefits of investment in local processing infrastructure.
Funding: $40,000
Melbourne City Council
Developing a business case for an organics processing facility to service the nine inner city councils.
Funding: $80,000
Melbourne City Council
Developing a business case for a co-mingled and separated glass recycling Material Recycling Facility to service the nine inner city councils.
Funding: $80,000
Melton City Council
Creating a business case for the Melton Recycling Facility that documents the benefits of the circular economy whilst identifying risks, opportunities and strategic partnerships.
Funding: $20,000
Moonee Valley City Council
Researching the feasibility of establishing an on-site circularity solution for recycled Expanded Polystyrene.
Funding: $15,000
Moorabool Shire Council
Evaluating the sites, management scenarios, markets for sourcing and selling material, as well as the cost and benefits of introducing a resale shop.
Funding: $20,00
Nillumbik Shire Council
Undertaking a feasibility study for the implementation of a Library of Things in Hurstbridge.
Funding: $18,000
Stonnington City Council
Developing a business case to future proof the Stonnington transfer station against changes to the waste industry and drive circular economy outcomes.
Funding: $20,000
Stonnington City Council
Examining organic and other material’s systematic movements in a services environment.
Funding: $40,000
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Feasibility stream
Announcement date: 15 July 2021
This stream enabled applicants to explore localised circular economy solutions.
Alpine Shire Council
Researching waste management at events in north-east Victoria to determine the most effective ways to reduce waste related to tourism.
Funding: $30,000
Bayside City Council
Undertaking research into the feasibility of establishing a repair and re-use centre.
Funding: $20,000
City of Ballarat
Developing a materials flow analysis to create a roadmap for progress towards a circular economy in Ballarat city and surrounding suburbs.
Funding: $20,000
City of Darebin
Undertaking research into the feasibility of establishing a textile recycling facility.
Funding: $20,000
City of Greater Geelong
Creating a business case for a regional waste, resource recovery and reuse hub in the Geelong region.
Funding: $80,000
City of Melbourne
Trialling an on-demand collection service for small e-waste items.
Funding: $20,000
City of Melbourne
Researching the best model for food recycling in high-rise apartment buildings.
Funding: $40,000
City of Monash
Researching the best practices of reusable nappy programs.
Funding: $80,000
City of Stonnington
Delivering a cost-benefit analysis on recycled alternatives to raw materials used in council building and infrastructure projects, to create a guide that Victorian councils can use when sourcing recycled materials.
Funding: $80,000
Corangamite Shire Council
Delivering a cost-benefit and location analysis in establishing a reuse-and-repair centre.
Funding: $20,000
East Gippsland Shire Council
Trialling the most effective composting methods to support the development of a regional composting facility.
Funding: $20,000
Mansfield Shire Council
Waste infrastructure audit assessing public street bin usage to better equip council to manage surges in waste from tourism.
Funding: $20,000
Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board
Delivering a business case for eliminating coffee cup waste at 3 alpine resorts.
Funding: $20,000
Murrindindi Shire Council
Delivering a business case for best options for a resource recovery centre to service Yea township and surrounding areas.
Funding: $20,000
Nillumbik Shire Council
Determining the most effective way to reduce food waste from small food businesses in the townships of Eltham and Diamond Creek.
Funding: $20,000
Northern Grampians Shire Council
Researching organic flows and markets to inform a business case for establishing a shared organics processing facility in the region.
Funding: $80,000
Strathbogie Shire Council
Establishing a business case for a regional resale shop.
Funding: $10,000
Swan Hill Rural City Council
Undertaking a feasibility study for establishing a mattress recycling facility.
Funding: $20,000
Wodonga City Council
Investigating the options for recycling problem materials such as polystyrene, silage wrap, textiles, mattresses and ski gear.
Funding: $35,000
Wyndham City Council
Establishing a business case for a mobile community shed to share items such as camping gear and gardening equipment.
Funding: $15,000
Yarra City Council
Delivering a business case for a potential ‘Yarra’s Circular Centre’ where hard rubbish can be reused, repaired and repurposed.
Funding: $20,000
Implementation stream
Announcement date: 15 July 2021
This stream was for applicants who had completed a feasibility study or have ‘shovel-ready’ project proposals with a proven business case.
City of Stonnington
Identifying the most efficient ways to reduce waste from apartment buildings going to landfill via a pilot involving 60 multi-unit dwellings across 10 metropolitan municipalities.
Funding: $120,000
Swan Hill Rural City Council
Purchasing and installing stage 1 composting infrastructure.
Funding: $250,000
Wyndham City Council
Establishing a new resource recovery centre to process timber, green waste, cardboard, concrete, soils and other recyclables.
Funding: $250,000
Yarriambiack Shire Council
Purchasing a mobile glass-crushing unit, which will be shared between 5 municipalities in the Wimmera Mallee region, to add recycled content to road projects.
Funding: $175,000