Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $200,000
- Application opened: 5 August 2025
- Application closed: 30 September 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
This stream is designed to support illegal dumping projects that include strategic prevention measures to tackle the problem.
The selection process will favour projects that show an integrated approach towards preventing and targeting illegal dumping, meaning they incorporate more than one approach to illegal dumping outlined in the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2022-2027.
Projects do not need to be focused on specific hotspots – they can involve engagement or communications across the project area, but they will need to be able to measure the impact of the project activities on dumping rates in the target area.
This program is administered by Environment Protection Authority.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible entities are groups of organisations (including local councils, groupings of councils and state government public land managers).
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Completed application through SmartyGrants including:
- Relevant photos or maps
- Letter of support from project partners (if relevant)
See guidelines on EPA website
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Assessment Criteria for Stream 4
Eligible applications will be assessed by a technical review committee against the following criteria:
- Size and complexity of the illegal dumping problem, and how well it is demonstrated (40% weighting).
- Effectiveness of proposed collaborative approaches to prevent illegal dumping across targeted area; extent of integration with RID squad/program (where applicable) (30% weighting).
- Probable extent and longevity of the project’s impact (10% weighting).
- Appropriateness of budget and project value for money – predicted outcomes and outputs are proportionate to the funding amount requested and in-kind or other contributions (10% weighting).
- Excellence of project’s proposed data gathering and evaluation (10% weighting).
Start the application
A brief Expression of Interest (EOI) must be submitted using the SmartyGrants platform.
The EPA will contact you after you have submitted your EOI and will arrange a meeting during the period 13 – 23 October 2025. During this meeting, you can discuss your proposal and ask questions about the grants. After the meeting, you will be invited to complete a full application.
Initial EOI is due by 30 September 2025, and the full application is due by 28 November 2025.
After submission via SmartyGrants, you will receive an acknowledgement of your application. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email, contact the Illegal Dumping Prevention team at illegaldumping.strategy@epa.nsw.gov.au to ensure your application has been received.
Grant applications will be assessed against the selection criteria outlined in these guidelines. The selection process will prioritise well-thought-out, innovative, and collaborative projects with the potential to have the highest project impact.
Entities such as councils and council groups can be the lead applicants in only one application per stream. If multiple applications are submitted by an entity, only the first application submitted will be assessed.
For state government agencies with regional offices, one application per regional office will be accepted.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: NSW EPA CEO. Applications will undergo an eligibility check before being reviewed by an independent technical review committee using the criteria set out below. The technical review committee will recommend projects to the EPA CEO for funding.
Applications will be assessed by a technical review committee (TRC). The committee will assess potential performance based on an applicant’s ability to meet selection criteria.
The TRC will rank the eligible applications during the assessment process. The TRC then makes recommendations to the EPA. The EPA Chief Executive Officer will make final funding decisions.
We encourage any unsuccessful applicants to request feedback and consider re-applying in future funding opportunities.
All funding is 100% contestable.
Support and contact
Need advice? The Illegal Dumping Prevention Team can advise on these guidelines and the types of activities funded by grants. To contact staff email illegaldumping.strategy@epa.nsw.gov.au.