Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund – Funded projects
The Circular Economy Organics Sector Transformation Fund supported the diversion of organic waste from landfill and the enhancement of end markets for recycled organics across the agricultural sector. It was part of the Recycling Victoria Policy funding.
$10.2 million in funding supported organic processing businesses to build new or enhance existing organic processing capacity, improving capability to remove contamination and produce a higher quality product.
These projects were co-funded by the Commonwealth via the Food Waste for Healthy Soils Fund.
Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Organics Sector Transformation Fund.
For the purposes of this grant program the term ‘organics’ or ‘organic’ refered to organic waste diverted from landfill.
Fund objectives
The fund’s objectives were to:
- increase the recovery and reprocessing of source separated organic waste into quality composts and soil conditioners
- increase the use and market demand of the end products, especially for use on agricultural soils
- support employment and long-term economic growth and development.
- support Victoria’s transition to a circular economy
This was to be achieved by funding projects that built new, or enhanced existing, organic processing infrastructure:
- to increase capacity
- to improve product quality through the installation of decontamination infrastructure or the procurement of technical equipment that improved product quality, including product testing.
Funding provided
Grants from $50,000 were available per project. No upper limit on fund requests.
Sustainability Victoria and Australian Government funding was required to be at least matched by the applicant on a minimum 1:1:1 basis.
Fund recipients
Announcement date: 29 September 2022
Central Gippsland Regional Water
Project
Scale up an existing organic waste processing facility to enable additional diversion of wastes from landfill
Proposal
Central Gippsland Regional Water will scale up an existing organic waste processing facility to enable additional diversion of wastes from landfill, including a newly rolled out Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection in the region. The upgrade will allow the processing of an additional 70,000 tonnes of organic waste each year and support 33 jobs during construction and a further 8 ongoing positions.
Funding
$4,788,000
Cleanaway Solids Waste Pty Ltd
Project
Upgrade Thurla transfer station to a composting facility that will process local FOGO waste
Proposal
Cleanaway Solids Waste will receive co-funding to upgrade its Thurla transfer station to a composting facility that will process local FOGO waste. The $2.83 million project will allow the processing of an additional 11,500 tonnes of organic waste each year and support 24 jobs during construction and a further 6 ongoing positions.
Funding
$1,293,747Ileowl Pty Ltd (trading as Greenchip Recycling)
Project
Build infrastructure capable of value-adding to fines produced in current composting operations
Proposal
Greenchip Recycling will receive co-funding to build infrastructure capable of value-adding to fines (a cross between mulch and compost) produced in current composting operations, by converting them into organic pellets. The organic pellets will be used in broad acre farming to add carbon back into the soil. The $1.06 million upgrade will allow the processing of an additional 4,250 tonnes of organic waste each year and support 12 jobs during construction and a further 4 ongoing positions.
Funding
$704,360Manningtree Corporation Pty Ltd
Project
Expand capacity at Elmore Compost and Organics facility
Manningtree Corporation will receive co-funding to expand capacity at its Elmore Compost and Organics facility, transforming it from a small farm-based operation to a commercial EPA (Vic) Licensed site. The $565,398 upgrade will allow the processing of an additional 40,000 tonnes of organic waste each year and support 6 jobs during construction and a further 4 ongoing positions.
Funding
$376,930
Pinegro Products Pty Ltd
Project
Upgrade Mt Wallace facility to accept Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) waste
Pinegro Products will receive co-funding to upgrade its Mt Wallace facility to accept FOGO. A new Aerated Floor Composting System will better manage compost temperatures, moisture content, oxygen levels and odour. The $1.62 million will upgrade the facility’s processing capability to be able to accept FOGO and increase the site processing capacity by an additional 5,000 tonnes. It will support 20 jobs during construction and a further 5 ongoing positions.
Funding
$1,082,800
Repurpose It Pty Ltd
Project
Upgrade the Epping facility to accept Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO ) waste
Proposal
Repurpose It will receive co-funding to upgrade its Epping facility to accept FOGO. Five concrete containers will be developed to store and break down organic material, increasing metropolitan Melbourne’s capacity and capability to process kerbside FOGO. The $5.34 million upgrade will divert an additional 50,000 tonnes of FOGO from landfill and support 45 jobs during construction and a further 15 ongoing positions.
Funding
$3,560,000
Sacyr Environment Australia Pty Ltd
Project
Upgrade equipment at the Dandenong facility to improve product quality and reduce contamination
Proposal
Sacyr Environment Australia will receive co-funding to upgrade equipment at its Dandenong facility to improve product quality and reduce contamination. The $2.94 million project will divert an additional 10,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year and support 25 jobs during construction and a further 8 ongoing positions.
Funding
$1,460,106
Swan Hill Rural City Council
Project
Expand the council’s existing open window composting facility to an in-vessel facility
Proposal
Swan Hill Rural City Council will receive co-funding to expand its existing small-scale open window composting facility and enable the processing of local FOGO material. The $1.35 million project will allow the processing of an additional 1,300 tonnes of organic waste each year and support 14 jobs during construction and a further 3 ongoing positions.
Funding
$816,667
More information
This grant program is closed, but you can email us if you have any queries.