$6 million in grants awarded to NSW businesses to help them reduce waste and cut emissions
By Rachael Ridley 4 October 2023
Pre-schools and food courts will be among the 4,000 small to medium NSW businesses helping to divert approximately 35,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year thanks to grants awarded by the NSW Government under the updated Bin Trim Networks Program.
Bin Trim is a business waste program aimed at avoiding, reusing, and reducing waste, as well as saving money and cutting carbon emissions. It encourages innovation and collaboration across industry sectors, supply chains and precincts to address problem waste materials.
The 14 successful projects in this grant round will support around 4,000 businesses across NSW. The recipients include:
MRA Consulting Group – awarded $498,299 to establish circular food court networks and target key waste streams in shopping centres across Sydney, including single-use food containers.
Revolve Recycling – awarded $500,000 to develop a 'Green Wheels' accreditation scheme for Personal Transport Vehicle businesses and minimise waste linked to bikes, e-bikes, and scooters.
Cool Planet – awarded $496,950 to educate more than 15,000 pre-school children on topics including how recycling works and stage engagement activities for staff and families. It will divert more than 1,000 tonnes of waste from early childhood education services. Key waste streams include food, soft plastics, and nappies.
NSW Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, said the grants are designed to help small and medium businesses to reduce the amount of organic, plastic, and other waste that goes to landfill.
“From food courts to bike shops and pre-schools, businesses are embracing the circular principles of avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle to both help the environment and effectively mitigate the impacts of rising costs,” said Minister Sharpe.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has also released the Bin Trim app, a free resource enabling all NSW businesses to conduct their own waste assessment, create an action plan to avoid and reduce waste, and monitor improvements over time.
The EPA’s popular Bin Trim Program has already enabled more than 38,000 businesses to help the environment and save money by diverting more than 260,000 tonnes of waste from landfill. The Program is part of the NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy, which will invest $356 million over five years.
Businesses who want to get involved with the Bin Trim program can find more information on the EPA website or call the EPA on 131 555.
The NSW EPA is the proud Foundation Partner of Planet Ark's Business Recycling.
For more information on how your business can reduce waste and increase recycling, use the War on Waste Toolkit.
Rachael manages the Business Recycling and Recycling Near You websites. Rachael joined Planet Ark in early 2019 after eight years working in media and publishing as a producer, editor and writer. Rachael loves using her skills in content creation and communication to instigate positive environmental behaviour change. Outside of work, Rachael enjoys spending time in nature, listening to music and patting dogs.
