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                    Waste minimisation and innovation fund 2022

                    People working in a startup business
                    As one of the fastest-growing cities in the developed world, we need to get smarter about waste.

                    The waste minimisation and innovation fund has been developed as part of our Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.

                    The 2022 grants are delivered in conjunction with the Social Enterprise Grants. Grants applications are now closed. These grants will support social enterprises that are contributing to Melbourne's circular economy, by working to reduce waste generation, promote reuse and repair, recycle what cannot be reused to keep materials in use for the longest time and designing for longevity. Social enterprises can be emerging or established and there is a host of great grants available to support your work.

                    If you are a social enterprise delivering for Melbourne, you can find out more at Social Enterprise Grants

                    Grants applications for 2022 are now closed.

                    2022 grant recipients

                    Social enterprise city impact grants, circular economy stream recipients

                    Congratulations to the recipients:

                    • Rollup recycling
                      Recycling carpet into new products whilst aiming to reduce the volume of carpet waste that fills council landfills. They also provide recyclable plastic materials to local universities to support waste and recycling productisation programs
                    • Kelland Environmental Technologies
                      Enterprise recycles nappies into cat litter with a tested viable waste collection and recycling process available to customers in the City of Melbourne and the wider metro area. 
                    • Farmwall
                      Farmwall offers high-tech, hands-on learning tools for schools and educators to offer project-based learning to students of all abilities, instructing them about sustainability, closed-loop practices, environmentally conscious farming and food security.
                    • City Compost Network
                      A CoM-based organisation focused on providing composting education for apartment dwellers. 
                    • Coffee Service Solutions
                      A CoM-based social enterprise providing zero waste coffee machine rental and bean supply/collection. 
                    • Billy Bubbles
                      Long-lasting soda bottles made from locally sourced recyclable materials. Billy Bubbles provides a circular service to CoM residents and businesses with zero waste and encourages their community of customers to repair/reuse rather than discard. 
                    • Reground
                      Social enterprise provides waste collection services to the hospitality sector, retailers and offices diverting coffee waste products and soft plastics from landfill. 
                    • Precious Plastic Melbourne
                      A community-focused recycling workspace manufacturing products from 100% locally sourced plastic waste. 
                    • STEM Sisters
                      A CoM-based social enterprise connecting migrant women with reused business clothing through new Be You program. 
                    • RNTR.
                      Fashion rental platform and logistics service 
                    • Sustainable Stripout
                      A CoM-based enterprise diverting office fit-out waste from landfill and donating second-hand items and profits to charitable organisations. 
                    • Fruit2Work
                      Corporate food delivery service, eliminating food and packaging waste whilst providing employment opportunities for marginalised groups.  
                    • AV Help
                      A CoM-based electronics repair and e-waste recycling service with a focus on education for businesses to avoid and reduce waste. 
                    • Open Table
                      Provides access to healthy food for people experiencing food insecurity and runs workshops that aim to inspire people on their journey to reducing food waste. 

                    Grant guidelines

                    Circular economy innovation grant guidelines 2021
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                    Information for applicants

                    The challenge

                    Our city generates lots of waste and we need to be mindful of what we buy and change the way we currently consume. It is estimated that:

                    • The average City of Melbourne food business's landfill bin contains 34 per cent food waste, which produces harmful greenhouse gasses in landfill. 
                    • Close to 800,000 tonnes of waste is created within the City of Melbourne boundary every year, some of which is recycled, most of which goes to landfill.

                    How can we reduce the volume of food waste generated and keep it out of landfill? 

                    How can we make changes to produce less waste at home, in our businesses, along supply chains and how can we keep unavoidable waste from ending up in landfill?

                    What do we mean by circular economy?

                    A circular economy is a system aimed at minimising waste and making the most of resources.  A circular economy:

                    • designs out waste and pollution
                    • keeps materials in use at the highest value for as long as possible
                    • returns materials to the economy through efficient recycling processes
                    • minimises environmental impacts by reducing consumption of finite natural resources and limiting the amount of waste to landfill
                    • considers the waste hierarchy, prioritising waste avoidance over disposal options such as recycling.

                    City of Melbourne is interested in bold and inventive circular economy solutions, challenging the notion of what ‘waste’ is, and finding pathways towards a circular economy and zero waste.  

                    The waste hierarchy shows waste behaviours in order from most to least preferable. The order is: Avoid, Reduce, Recycle, Recover (including energy), Treat (including hazardous waste), Disposal.

                    Opening and closing dates

                    ​The circular economy innovation grants open 19 March and close 6 April 2021.

                    What will be funded?

                    ​The circular economy innovation grants offers three funding streams.

                    • Stream 1: up to $2500 funding. Open to small non-food businesses, small non-food social enterprise, startups and small to medium food businesses. Stream 1 offers a circular economy focused skills development, including mentorship sessions and optional impact reporting course that will enable organisations to measure the impact of their projects on circular economy.
                    • Stream 2: up to $5000 funding. Open to small non-food businesses, small non-food social enterprise and startups. Stream 2 offers funding for development activities such as product research, piloting, prototype development and scale-up activities.
                    • Stream 3: up to $5000 funding. Open to small to medium enterprise food businesses. Stream 3 offers funding to reduce the volume of organic waste created and divert unavoidable organic waste away from landfill.
                    Funding streams available
                    ​Organisation eligible to apply for grant stream

                    ​Stream 1: Mentorship and expertise
                    (up to $2500)
                    ​Stream 2: Researching an idea
                    (up to $5000)
                    Stream 3: Implementing an idea
                    (up to $5000​)
                    ​Small non-food business
                    Y​​Y
                    ​N/A
                    ​Small non-food social enterprise
                    ​Y
                    Y​
                    ​N/A
                    ​Startup
                    ​Y
                    ​Y
                    ​N/A
                    ​Small to medium food business
                    ​Y
                    N/A​​Y

                    Am I eligible to apply?

                    The circular economy innovation grants are open to the following organisations 

                    • Non-food small business
                    • Non-food small social enterprise 
                    • Startups
                    • Small to medium-sized food businesses.

                    Organisations must be located within the City of Melbourne, or planning to relocate into the City of Melbourne within three months.

                    Please read the fund guidelines for detailed eligibility criteria. 

                    Grant information sessions

                    Information sessions will be held on the following dates:

                    • Wednesday 24 March, 11am to 12.30pm
                    • Thursday 25 March, 3pm to 4.30pm
                    • Tuesday 30 March, 5.30pm to 7pm

                    Bookings for these sessions are essential. Book your place through EventBrite.

                    Technical assistance with application form

                    ​We use SmartyGrants software for our online application form. For technical assistance with the SmartyGrants system refer to the SmartyGrants help guide for applicants.

                    SmartyGrants advises applicants to preview the application forms using the following supported browsers:

                    • Google Chrome v3.0+ 
                    • Safari v3.0+
                    • Firefox v2.0+
                    • Internet Explorer v8.0+ 

                    Please note Internet Explorer v7.0 is supported with limitations and v6.0 is not supported.

                    Previous grant recipients

                    2021

                    ​Circular economy innovation fund recipients

                    Congratulations to the recipients:

                    • Medical Pantry Limited
                      Project: Expanding healthcare network to maximise opportunities to divert excess medical supplies to facilities in need. 
                    • STEM SISTERS VIC INCORPORATED
                      Project: Dressed To Impress program to supply second hand professional clothing to support migrant women entering the workforce.
                    • Untwine
                      Project: Developing prototype reusable wine bottles made from grape by-products.
                    • Rook
                      Project: Developing digital packaging to empower consumers to purchase low-packaging-waste cosmetics. 
                    • Linux Support Services
                      Project: Developing a service to refurbishing obsolescent computers with Linux operating system and distributing within the community.
                    • Hyyro Technologies Pty Ltd
                      Project: Developing a peer-to-peer rental platform to improve utilisation of household items.
                    • Ember Eco Solutions Pty Ltd
                      Project: Tailoring existing biofuel solutions to service new markets.
                    • AGERO
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their commercial fit out, construction and refurbishment operations.
                    • UCORE PTY LTD
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their commercial strip-outs operations.
                    • Concoor
                      Project: Developing a platform to connect consumers with low-waste stores in Melbourne.
                    • STAR CITY LIQUOR STORE
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their retail operations.
                    • Resparkle Pty Ltd
                      Project: Developing prototype planter boxes made from their end-of-life reusable cleaning product containers. 
                    • Sensory Lab Australia Pty Ltd
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their coffee bean roasting operations.
                    • Pho Melbourne
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • The Small Batch Unit Trust
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their coffee bean roasting and cellar door operations.
                    • Frankie Walter Peta Pty Ltd
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Universal Restaurant
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Ichigo Cafe
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Kazbah Egyptian Street Food
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • GUKSU LOL ROLL
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Doo Boo
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Oppa Korean Kitchen
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Atiyah Pty Ltd
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • SAM SAM Chicken & Beer
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Health Express World Trade Centre
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • King St Espresso Bar
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Saint & Rogue
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.
                    • Haymarket Cafe
                      Project: Improving waste minimisation and recycling practices in their food operations.

                    2020

                    Waste minimisation and innovation fund / Connected Communities grant recipients

                    ​The waste minimisation and innovation fund teamed up with the Connected Communities grants in 2020. Congratulations to the recipients:

                    • Kensington Town Hall Compost Hub
                      Project: New community composting hub facilities.
                    • St Peter’s Eastern Hill Social Enterprise, Inc.
                      Project: New community composting system.

                    2019

                    Waste minimisation and innovation fund recipients

                    ​Congratulations to the recipients:

                    Small grants

                    • Southbank Sustainability Group
                      Project: New composting facility near Boyd Community Hub. 
                    • Unison Housing
                      Project: Education campaign in social housing to improve recycling and support their new composting facility.
                    • Inner Melbourne Community Legal
                      Project: Transitioning to a paperless filing system and supporting other community legal centres to do the same.
                    • Transition Town Kensington
                      Project: Community bike workshop space to teach people to build and fix bikes. 
                    • Love Our Street Docklands
                      Project: Holding a Vertical Village Waste Market in 2020 to educate and engage about recycling.

                    Large grants

                    • Open Food Network
                      Project: Designing a transparent and effective supply-chain platform to connect food waste producers, collectors and processors. 
                    • University of Melbourne
                      Project: Manufacturing and testing modular permeable pavement blocks that contain recycled tyres and aggregates.
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