Seven projects across NSW have received support in the latest round of grants of more than $700,000 to help reduce waste and promote recycling.
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Director Circular Economy Programs Kathy Giunta (pron: Joonta) said the funding supports NSW businesses which are innovating and finding new ways to recycle and repurpose materials which would otherwise end up in landfill.
Among the grants is $134,500 awarded to Newcastle-based recycling project A Plastic Blueprint which gives businesses the tools to run their own soft plastic reduction and recycling program.
“This is the circular economy in action and displays how NSW businesses are innovating by finding new and exciting uses for plastic waste. We all want to see waste plastic recycled or repurposed so it doesn’t end up in landfill and projects like this – supported by the NSW Government – are helping achieve that goal,” Ms Giunta said.
The Circulate Program is part of the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative, the largest waste and recycling funding program in Australia, managed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.
A total of $731,300 has been awarded through the current intake of the Circulate Program to seven projects to repurpose or recycle materials, including plastics, textiles and food from commercial sites and turn them into new products.
“The innovation shown by the projects receiving funding is remarkable and shows the success we can have in growing the circular economy,” Ms Giunta said.
“Other projects will promote glass recycling, repurpose old textiles and help reduce food going to landfill.”
Under the Waste Less, Recycle More extension, a total of $2.5 million in funding was allocated to the Circulate Program to fund eligible projects.
Since 2015, the program has diverted more than 73,000 tonnes of commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste from landfill.
