Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $1 to $400,000
- Application opened: 1 September 2025
- Application closed: 10 October 2025, 4:00 pm
Program objective
- support NSW local councils, collaborations of councils, and regional waste groups in the levy paying areas to deliver innovative waste and recycling solutions to their communities that support transition towards a circular economy and contribute to achieving NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets;
- facilitate collaboration, knowledge-sharing and partnerships to assist NSW local councils to transition to a circular economy and have long-term impacts; and
- support local councils to share the findings and resources of funded projects.
This program is administered by Environment Protection Authority.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The following organisations are eligible to lead and apply for the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund:
- local councils that pay waste levies in the regulated area. This includes the 42 councils in the metropolitan levy area (MLA) and the 19 councils in the regional levy area (RLA). The names of these councils are defined by Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation
- regional waste groups of councils in the Greater Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions that are supported by the EPA Regional Coordination Support Program
- voluntary regional waste groups in the RLA, supported by the EPA Regional Coordination Support Program
Types of projects funded under this grant
The Local Government Waste Solutions Fund supports innovative waste and recycling solutions that are scalable and contribute to the priorities and targets in the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy and the NSW Plastics Action Plan.
When the project can start and end
The project should be started by 1 April 2026 and the project must be completed by 30 April 2027.
What costs you can apply for
Project costs may include:
- collecting, transporting and processing costs of materials for re-use and/or diversion from landfill
- leasing or capital purchases (e.g. equipment, infrastructure)
- planning, feasibility studies, research and strategy development activities
- resourcing including consultants, contractors, project management, administration and/or implementation costs
What costs you can't apply for
The fund cannot be used for:
- projects that have designated funding programs under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy (WaSM) and the NSW Plastics Action Plan.
- projects that do not align with the objectives and policies of the Environment Protection Authority, WaSM strategy or the NSW Plastics Action Plan, and/or do not contribute to achieving the NSW Government’s waste priorities and targets or cannot be measured or quantified.
- financial co-contribution to other grants, including, but not limited to, contestable grants being delivered under the WaSM strategy, the NSW Plastics Action Plan and other relevant strategies
- legal advice
- collection and transportation of materials that cannot be recycled or diverted from landfill (e.g. asbestos) or the clean-up of litter or illegally dumped materials
- ongoing delivery of pre-existing local council or regional waste group programs including those previously funded by the NSW EPA Better Waste and Recycling Fund
- works that will be or have been funded by other sources. However, additional funding from other sources may be used in tandem with the Waste Solutions Fund to enhance the outcomes of the project. Eligible organisations must state in their grant application if they have secured funding for the same project through another source. The applicant must justify and maintain any relevant project and funding boundaries.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applicant has read the guidelines
Applicant and project meets all eligibility criteria
Applicant has considered the assessment criteria
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
The Assessment Criteria covers the following areas
- Robustness of the project
- Innovation
- Collaboration and building capacity for change
- Project impact
- Value for money
Start the application
Applications must be submitted to the EPA using the SmartyGrants platform at https://epa.smartygrants.com.au/ before the closing date and time specified on the EPA website.
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
The TRC independently assess applications in a fair and equitable manner against the assessment criteria. It is made up of representatives from outside the EPA with relevant knowledge and experience, and who undertake their duties within the principles of ethical conduct, integrity, objectivity and independence. TRC representatives are required to keep all matters concerning applications confidential and to declare any potential conflict of interest.
The TRC assessment process helps the EPA select projects that support the grant’s objectives and offer good value for money. The assessment process is overseen by an independent probity auditor. The TRC makes recommendations to the EPA. The EPA CEO will make final funding decisions.
Support and contact
Circular Connections
Programs and Innovation Division
Environment Protection Authority
Phone: (02) 9995 5000 (switchboard)