The Australian Government has announced $60 million in national infrastructure funding to boost recycling rates for hard-to-recycle plastics.
The Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) Plastics Technology stream is intended to deliver national solutions that drive significant increases in Australia’s recycling rates for hard-to-recycle plastics.
Applications for projects located in Victoria are now open.
Grants between $1 million and $20 million are available for projects to be completed by 30 June 2027 at the latest. Applicants must contribute at least 50% towards eligible project costs.
The Plastics Technology stream aims to:
- significantly increase recycling and recovery rates of hard-to-recycle plastics
- build domestic and international confidence to invest in recycling infrastructure in Australia
- support a safe circular economy for plastics in Australia to transform waste plastic into valuable new products, such as food-grade plastic packaging
- support long-term job creation and a more highly skilled workforce in the Australian recycling industry
protect our environment through reduced plastic pollution.
Sustainability Victoria (SV) will deliver the Plastics Technology stream on behalf of the Victorian and Australian governments.
Learn more about Plastics Technology stream
What kind of projects will be funded?
The Plastics Technology stream will support projects such as:
- advanced recycling projects targeting hard-to-recycle plastics, such as mixed, multi-layer, flexible or contaminated plastics
- commercialisation and scaling-up of emerging and trial technologies targeting circularity of hard-to-recycle plastics
- infrastructure upgrades and innovative technology to help extract and process plastics contained within products, such as e-waste, into higher-value products
- proposals to equip existing or new material recovery facilities or plastic recovery facilities with advanced sorting, separation and de-contamination technology such as optical or robotic machinery to increase the diversion of plastics from landfill
- proposals put forward by a consortium proposing end-to-end solutions and circularity in our plastics supply chain.
Who can apply?
- Business and industry
- Local government
- Social enterprises and not-for-profits
Important dates
SV application form available: Friday 21 July 2023.
SV applications close: 11.59 pm, Monday 4 September 2023.