Supporting a clean city

The City of Melbourne is offering grants for creative waste management solutions.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said grants of up to $5000 for community groups, schools and not-for-profits, as well as $25,000 for startups and universities – including students and researchers - are up for grabs.

“We’re looking for projects that could help reduce food waste, prevent litter, or deliver local solutions to household waste,” she said.

The call for solutions comes amid a statewide recycling crisis following the collapse of embattled recycler SKM.

The Lord Mayor said the City of Melbourne had recently reached a temporary agreement to resume processing of household recycling while restructuring company KordaMentha sought to finalise the sale of SKM.

“We urge the community to continue separating their waste and recycling,” she said.

“It’s vital that general waste not be mixed in with recycling to ensure recycling services are sustainable and viable.”

Chair of the City of Melbourne’s environment portfolio Cathy Oke said the fund was just one way the council was working towards creating a circular economy where “everything has value” and “nothing is wasted.”

Applications close October 16. To apply visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/wastegrants