NSW Recycling Modernisation Fund – Plastics Technology stream

Program information

See the Recycling Modernisation Fund – Plastics Technology stream Funding Guidelines for a full list of program information.

NSW supported proposals targeting all polymer types, except for polystyrene, bioplastics or PVC packaging as they are not in alignment with NSW policy directions. 

• advanced recycling projects targeting hard-to-recycle plastics, such as mixed, multi-layer, flexible or contaminated plastics
• commercialisation or scaling-up of emerging and trial technology targeting circularity of hard-to-recycle plastics
• infrastructure upgrades and technology to 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 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. For example, this may include supply chain collaboration between a collection and sorting facility of plastic waste, an advanced recycling facility, and manufacturers.

Applications must relate to eligible activities and be for:

• new infrastructure, technology, processes, machinery and/or equipment to recycle hard-to-recycle plastics
• an improvement or expansion of existing infrastructure, technology, processes, machinery and/or equipment to recycle hard-to-recycle plastics
• commercialisation or scaling up to build or increase existing capacity for recovering and recycling hard-to-recycle plastics.

Available funding

Grants between $1 million and $20 million were available.

Up to $60 million was available nationally. Applications supported by the NSW Government were competitively assessed against applications from other jurisdictions by the Commonwealth Government. Project proponents were required to contribute at least 50% of the eligible project financial costs.

Eligibility

Eligible project proponents (or in the case of a consortium, lead project proponents) are:

• an Australian entity or partnership incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
• an entity or partnership under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• an Australian research institution (can be a tertiary education institution, a government agency established for research, a cooperative research centre, an institute or centre of research or a privately owned and accredited research facility). Consultancies are not considered to be research institutions
• a council, regional organisation of councils or other local government-controlled organisation
• a non-government/not-for-profit organisation (must comply with the Australian Taxation Office’s definition) with an established legal status, or those without legal status that can have grant funds administered by another organisation with legal status
• an Aboriginal Land Council.

Application process

Applications are closed.

Assessment process

Proposals were assessed by a NSW independent expert panel. The NSW independent expert panel assessed proposals and accompanying documents against the program guidelines and assessment criteria as set out in the Guidelines. The assessment process was overseen by a probity auditor.

Recommended projects from NSW were submitted to the Commonwealth government for final funding decisions.

The Commonwealth government committed $60 million towards a Plastics Technology stream as part of the $250 million Recycling Modernisation Fund to address plastic recycling rates, plastic pollution and contribute to the targets of the National Waste Policy Action Plan.

The Commonwealth government is partnering with States and Territories to deliver the program. States and Territories are working towards program timelines set by the Commonwealth government for the opening and assessment of projects.

NSW generates approximately 891,000 tonnes of plastic waste every year and only about 14% of that is recycled. The remaining 86% ends up in landfill or the natural environment. This represents a significant loss of materials from the productive economy.

The NSW Government identified this issue and has set targets under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041 and the NSW Plastics Action Plan.

The Plastics Plan outlines a comprehensive suite of actions to address plastic at all stages of its lifecycle including to accelerate the transition to better plastic products.

By supporting more advanced recycling technologies, we unlock opportunities for previously hard-to-recycle plastics like soft plastics to be recovered, boost our plastics recycling rates, support the transition away from virgin plastics and drive towards a safe circular economy for plastics.